Automated shade control in connection with electrochromic glass

ABSTRACT

Automated shade systems may comprise controllers that use algorithms to control operation of the automated shade control system and components thereof, for example window coverings, glass having variable characteristics, and so forth. These algorithms may include information such as: 3-D models of a building and surrounding structures, shadow information, reflectance information, lighting and radiation information, information regarding one or more variable characteristics of glass, clear sky algorithms, log information related to manual overrides, occupant preference information, motion information, real-time sky conditions, solar radiation on a building, a total foot-candle load on a structure, brightness overrides, actual and/or calculated BTU load, time-of-year information, and microclimate analysis.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 13/359,575filed on Jan. 27, 2012, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2012/0133315 entitled “Automated Shade Control in Connection withElectrochromic Glass”. U.S. Ser. No. 13/359,575 is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 13/343,912 filed on Jan. 5, 2012,now U.S. Pat. No. 8,248,014 entitled “Automated Shade Control System”,U.S. Ser. No. 13/343,912 is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 12/475,312filed on May 29, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,120,292 entitled “AutomatedShade Control Reflectance Module”. U.S. Ser. No. 12/475,312 is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 12/421,410 filed on Apr. 9, 2009,now U.S. Pat. No. 8,125,172 entitled “Automated Shade Control Method andSystem”. U.S. Ser. No. 12/421,410 is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser.No. 12/197,863 filed on Aug. 25, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,977,904entitled “Automated Shade Control Method and System,” U.S. Ser. No.12/197,863 is a continuation-in part of U.S. Ser. No. 11/162,377 filedon Sep. 8, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,417,397 entitled “Automated ShadeControl Method and System.” U.S. Ser. No. 11/162,377 is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 10/906,817 filed on Mar. 8, 2005,and entitled “Automated Shade Control Method and System.” U.S. Ser. No.10/906,817 is a non-provisional of U.S. Provisional No. 60/521,497 filedon May 6, 2004, and entitled “Automated Shade Control Method andSystem.” The entire contents of all of the foregoing applications arehereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to automatic shade control, andmore specifically, to automated shade systems that facilitate control ofglass having one or more variable optical and/or thermalcharacteristics.

BACKGROUND

A variety of automated systems currently exist for controlling blinds,drapery, and other types of window coverings. These systems often employphoto sensors to detect the visible light (daylight) entering through awindow. The photo sensors may be connected to a computer and/or a motorthat automatically opens or closes the window covering based upon thephoto sensor and/or temperature read-out.

While photo sensors and temperature sensors may be helpful indetermining the ideal shading for a window or interior, these sensorsmay not be entirely effective. As such, some shade control systemsemploy other criteria or factors to help define the shading parameters.For example, some systems employ detectors for detecting the angle ofincidence of sunlight. Other systems use rain sensors, artificiallighting controls, geographic location information, date and timeinformation, window orientation information, and exterior and interiorphoto sensors to quantify and qualify an optimum position for a windowcovering. However, no single system currently employs all of these typesof systems and controls.

Moreover, most automated systems are designed for, and limited for usewith, Venetian blinds, curtains and other traditional window coverings.Further, prior art systems generally do not utilize information relatedto the variation of light level within the interior of a structure. Thatis, most systems consider the effects of relatively uniform shadingand/or brightness and veiling glare, rather than graduated shadingand/or brightness and veiling glare. Therefore, there is a need for anautomated shade control system that contemplates graduated shading andoptimum light detection and adaptation.

It has been determined that the most efficient energy design forbuildings is to be able to take advantage of natural daylight whichallows for the reduction in artificial lighting which in turn reducesthe Air Conditioning load, which reduces the energy consumption of abuilding. To achieve these goals, the glazing has to allow a highpercentage of daylight to penetrate the glazing, by using clear or highvisible light transmitting glazing. But with the high amount of visiblelight there is also the bright orb of the sun, excessive heat gain, anddebilitating solar rays which will at different times of the year and ondifferent solar orientations penetrate deeply into the building,effecting and impacting the persons working or living therein. Thus, aneed exists to manage and control the amount of solar load, solarpenetration, and temperatures of the window wall. In addition, there isa need to control the amount of solar radiation and brightness toacceptable norms that protect the comfort and health of the occupants,e.g. an energy conserving integrated sub-system.

SUMMARY

Systems and methods for automated control of shades and/or glass havingvariable characteristics are disclosed, in an embodiment, a systemcomprises a glass controller configured to adjust a variablecharacteristic of a glass, and a central controller configured tocontrol the glass controller and a motor associated with a windowcovering.

In another embodiment, a method comprises modeling, by an automatedshade control system, at least a portion of a building and at least aportion of the surroundings of a building to create a shadow model;using, by the automated shade control system, the shadow model a firsttime to calculate the presence of calculated shadow at a first locationof interest; and communicating, to a first glass controller, aninstruction configured to adjust a variable characteristic of a firstglass responsive to the calculated shadow at the first location ofinterest.

In another embodiment, a method comprises receiving, at an automatedshade control system, an input from at least one of a photosensor or aradiometer, and generating, responsive to the input, a first instructionto a glass controller. The first instruction is configured to cause theglass controller to adjust a variable characteristic of a first glass.The method further comprises generating, responsive to the input, asecond instruction to a motor controller. The second instruction isconfigured to cause the motor controller to adjust the position of awindow covering associated with the glass.

In another embodiment, a method comprises modeling, by an automatedshade control system, at least a portion of a building and at least aportion of the surroundings of a building to create a reflectance model;using, by the automated shade control system, the reflectance model afirst time to calculate the presence of calculated reflected light atthe first location of interest; and communicating, to a first glasscontroller, a first instruction configured to adjust a variablecharacteristic of a first glass responsive to the calculated reflectedlight at the first location of interest.

In yet another embodiment, a method for controlling a glass having avariable characteristic comprises using, by an automated shade controlsystem, information related to at least one of solar penetration througha window or solar load on the window to establish a standard managementroutine for a glass having a variable characteristic; receiving, at theautomated shade control system, reflectance information indicating thepresence of calculated reflected light on the glass; and overriding, bythe automated shade control system, the standard management routineresponsive to the presence of calculated reflected light on the glass.

In still another embodiment, a method comprises communicating, to afirst glass controller, a first instruction configured to adjust avariable characteristic of a first glass in a first band, andcommunicating, to the first glass controller, a second instructionconfigured to adjust the variable characteristic of the first glass in asecond band.

The contents of this summary section are provided only as a simplifiedintroduction to the disclosure, and are not intended to be used to limitthe scope of the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to the following description, appended claims, andaccompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary automated shadecontrol system in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 2A shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary window systemwith a window covering retracted in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 2B shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary window systemwith a window covering extended in accordance with embodiments;

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram of an exemplary method for automatedshade control in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary ASHRAE model in accordance with variousembodiments;

FIG. 5 shows a screen shot of an exemplary user interface (e.g. view ofSolarTrac software) in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart of exemplary solar heat gain and solarpenetration sensing and reaction in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart of exemplary brightness sensing andreaction in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 8 illustrates a flowchart of exemplary shadow modeling and reactionin accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 9 illustrates a flowchart of exemplary reflectance modeling andreaction in accordance with various embodiments;

FIGS. 10A-10E illustrate reflectance modeling in accordance with variousembodiments;

FIGS. 11A and 11B illustrate control of a variable characteristic of aglass in a uniform manner across a window in accordance with variousembodiments; and

FIG. 11C illustrates control of a variable characteristic of a glass ina banded manner across a window in accordance with various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description of various embodiments herein shows principlesof the present disclosure by way of illustration including the bestmode. While these various embodiments are described in sufficient detailto enable those skilled in the art to practice principles of the presentdisclosure, it should be understood that other embodiments may berealized and that logical and mechanical changes may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Thus, thedetailed description herein is presented for purposes of illustrationonly and not of limitation. For example, the steps recited in any of themethod or process descriptions may be executed in any order and are notlimited to the order presented. Moreover, any of the functions or stepsmay be outsourced to or performed by one or more third parties.Furthermore, any reference to singular includes plural embodiments, andany reference to more than one component may include a singularembodiment.

Moreover, for the sake of brevity, certain sub-components of theindividual operating components, conventional data networking,application development and other functional aspects of the systems maynot be described in detail herein. Furthermore, the connecting linesshown in the various figures contained herein are intended to representexemplary functional relationships and/or physical couplings between thevarious elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additionalfunctional relationships or physical connections may be present in apractical system.

As used herein, “glass” shall include any substance or combination ofsubstances that at least partially or fully allow visible light to passthrough. Accordingly, a reference to “glass” can include conventionalsoda-lime glass, borosilicate glass, doped and/or dyed glass,polycarbonates (for example, as sold under the trade names Lexan,Macrolon, and/or Macrolife), poly-methyl methacrylate (sometimesreferred to as “PMMA” or “acrylic glass”, for example as sold under thetrade names Plexiglass, Lucite, and/or Perspex), organic films, thinfilms, plastics, polyethelyne, polyethylene terephthalate (“PETE”),transparent and/or translucent ceramics, and/or the like, and/orcombinations of the same.

Moreover, as used herein, “glass” shall include glass used in windows,walls, doors, floors, ceilings, light fixtures, skylights, animal tanks,and/or the like. Additionally, “glass” shall include “switchable”,“dynamic” or “smart” glass having one or more variable optical and/orthermal characteristics (e.g., glass having electrochromic coatingsand/or layers, glass having magnetochromic layers and/or coatings, glasshaving suspended particle coatings and/or layers, glass having polymerdispersed liquid crystal coatings and/or layers, glass havingmicro-blind coatings and/or layers, and/or the like).

Various embodiments may be described herein in terms of block diagrams,screen shots and flowcharts, optional selections and various processingsteps. Such functional blocks may be realized by any number of hardwareand/or software components configured to perform to specified functions.For example, various embodiments may employ various integrated circuitcomponents (e.g., memory elements, processing elements, logic elements,look-up tables, and the like), which may carry out a variety offunctions under the control of one or more microprocessors or othercontrol devices. Similarly, the software elements of various embodimentsmay be implemented with any programming or scripting language such as C,C++, Java, COBOL, assembler, PERL, Delphi, extensible markup language(XML), smart card technologies with the various algorithms beingimplemented with any combination of data structures, objects, processes,routines or other programming elements. Further, it should be noted thatvarious embodiments may employ any number of conventional techniques fordata transmission, signaling, data processing, network control, and thelike. Still further, principles of the present disclosure could be usedto detect or prevent security issues with a client-side scriptinglanguage, such as JavaScript, VBScript or the like. For a basicintroduction of cryptography and network security, see any of thefollowing references: (1) “Applied Cryptography: Protocols, Algorithms,and Source Code In C,” by Bruce Schneier, published by John Wiley & Sons(second edition, 1996); (2) “Java Cryptography” by Jonathan Knudson,published by O'Reilly & Associates (1998); (3) “Cryptography and NetworkSecurity: Principles and Practice” by William Stallings, published byPrentice Hall; all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

As used herein, the term “network” shall include any electroniccommunications means which incorporates both hardware and softwarecomponents of such. Communication among the parties in accordance withprinciples of the present disclosure may be accomplished through anysuitable communication channels, such as, for example, a telephonenetwork, an extranet, an intranet, Internet, point-of-interaction device(point-of-sale device, personal digital assistant, cellular phone,kiosk, etc.), online communications, off-line communications, wirelesscommunications, transponder communications, local area network (LAN),wide area network (WAN), networked or linked devices and/or the like.Moreover, although various embodiments are frequently described hereinas being implemented with TCP/IP communication protocols, principles ofthe present disclosure may also be implemented using IPX, Appletalk,IP-6, NetBIOS, OSI, Lonworks or any number of existing or futureprotocols. If the network is in the nature of a public network, such asthe Internet, it may be advantageous to presume the network to beinsecure and open to eavesdroppers. Specific information related to theprotocols, standards, and application software utilized in connectionwith the Internet is generally known to those skilled in the art and, assuch, need not be detailed herein. See, for example, Dilip Naik,“Internet Standards and Protocols,” (1998); “Java 2 Complete,” variousauthors, (Sybex 1999); Deborah Ray and Eric Ray, “Mastering HTML 4.0,”(1997); Loshin, “TCP/IP Clearly Explained,” (1997); and David Gourleyand Brian Totty, “HTTP, The Definitive Guide,” (2002), the contents ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference.

The various system components may be independently, separately orcollectively suitably coupled to the network via data links whichinclude, for example, a connection to an Internet Service Provider (ISP)over the local loop as is typically used in connection with a standardmodem communication, cable modem, Dish network, ISDN, Digital SubscriberLine (DSL), or various wireless communication methods, see, e.g.,Gilbert “Understanding Data Communications,” (1996), which is herebyincorporated by reference. It is noted that the network may beimplemented as other types of networks, such as an interactivetelevision (ITV) network. Moreover, principles of the present disclosurecontemplate the use, sale or distribution of any goods, services orinformation over any network having similar functionality describedherein.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary automated shade control (ASC) system 100in accordance with various embodiments. ASC 100 may comprise an analogand digital interface (ADI) 105 configured for communicating withcentralized control system (CCS) 110, one or more motors 130, and/or oneor more sensors 125. ADI 105 may communicate with CCS 110, motors 130,sensors 125 and/or any other components through communication links 120.For example, in one embodiment, ADI 105 and CCS 110 are configured tocommunicate directly with motors 130 to minimize lag time betweencomputing commands and motor movement. Moreover, in various embodiments,CCS 110 may communicate directly with other components of ASC 100 (forexample, without routing communications through ADI 105). Additionally,ASC 100 may comprise one or more glass controllers 140.

ADI 105 may be configured to facilitate transmitting shade positioncommands and/or other commands and instructions. ADI 105 may also beconfigured to interface between CCS 110 and motors 130 and/or glasscontrollers 140. ADI 105 may be configured to facilitate user access tomotors 130 and/or glass controllers 140. By facilitating user access,ADI 105 may be configured to facilitate communication between a user andmotors 130 and/or glass controllers 140. For example, ADI 105 may allowa user to access some or all of the functions of motors 130 and/or glasscontrollers 140 for any number of zones. ADI 105 may use communicationlinks 120 for communication, user input, and/or any other communicationmechanism for providing user access.

ADI 105 may be configured as hardware and/or software. While FIG. 1depicts a single ADI 105, ASC 100 may comprise multiple ADIs 105. In oneembodiment, ADI 105 may be configured to allow a user to control motors130 for multiple window coverings and/or to control glass controllers140 for multiple glasses. As used herein, a zone refers to any area of astructure wherein ASC 100 is configured to control the shading (forexample, via control of window coverings, variable characteristics ofglass, and/or the like). For example, an office building may be dividedinto eight zones, each zone corresponding to a different floor. Eachzone, in turn may have 50 different glazings, windows and/or windowcoverings. Thus, ADI 105 may facilitate controlling each motor in eachzone, some or all window coverings for some or all floors (or portionthereof), each glass in each zone, and/or multiple ADIs 105 (i.e., two,four, eight, or any other suitable number of different ADIs 105) may becoupled together to collectively control some or all window coveringsand/or glasses, wherein each ADI 105 controls the motors 130 and/orglass controllers 140 for each floor. Moreover, ASC 100 may log, record,classify, quantify, and otherwise measure and/or store informationrelated to one or more window coverings and/or glasses. Additionally,each ADI 105 may be addressable, such as via an Internet protocol (IP)address, a MAC address, and/or the like.

ADI 105 may also be configured with one or more safety mechanisms. Forexample, ADI 105 may comprise one or more override buttons to facilitatemanual operation of one or more motors 130 glass controllers 140, and/orADIs 105. ADI 105 may also be configured with a security mechanism thatrequires entry of a password, code, biometric, or otheridentifier/indicia suitably configured to allow the user to interact orcommunicate with the system, such as, for example, authorization/accesscode, personal identification number (PIN), Internet code, bar code,transponder, digital certificate, biometric data, and/or otheridentification indicia.

In various embodiments, ASC 100 and/or components thereof (e.g., CCS110, ADI 105, glass controller 140, and/or the like) may be configuredto (i) utilize information relating to one or more variablecharacteristics of glass comprising a building or a portion thereof (forexample, window glass, wall glass, skylight glass, and/or the like)and/or (ii) modify, set, vary, monitor, and/or otherwise control and/oradjust one or more variable characteristics of glass comprising abuilding or a portion thereof. For example, ASC 100 may be configured toimplement and/or provide control and/or monitoring capabilities for“switchable”, “dynamic” or “smart” glass (e.g., glass havingelectrochromic coatings and/or layers, glass having magnetochromiclayers and/or coatings, glass having suspended particle coatings and/orlayers, glass having polymer dispersed liquid crystal coatings and/orlayers, glass having micro-blind coatings and/or layers, and/or thelike). In various embodiments, ASC 100 may be configured to controland/or vary one or more characteristics of a glass, for example, visiblelight transmission, shading coefficient, heat flow, reflectivity, color,and/or the like. In various embodiments, ASC 100 and/or componentsthereof (for example, CCS 110) may implement control of one or morecharacteristics of a glass directly. In other various embodiments, ASC100 and/or components thereof (for example, CCS 110) may utilize and/orwork in tandem with a glass controller (for example, glass controller140) to control of one or more characteristics of a glass.

CCS 110 may be used to facilitate communication with and/or control ofADI 105 or other components of ASC 100. CCS 110 may be configured tofacilitate computing of one or more algorithms to determine, forexample, solar radiation levels, sky type (such as clear, overcast,bright overcast, and/or the like), interior lighting information,exterior lighting information, temperature information, glareinformation, shadow information, reflectance information, and the like.CCS 110 algorithms may include proactive and reactive algorithmsconfigured to provide appropriate solar protection from direct solarpenetration; reduce solar heat gain; reduce radiant surface temperaturesand/or veiling glare; control penetration of the solar ray, optimize theinterior natural daylighting of a structure, control one or morevariable characteristics of a glass, and/or optimize the efficiency ofinterior lighting systems. CCS 110 algorithms may operate in real-time.CCS 110 may be configured with a RS-485 communication board tofacilitate receiving and transmitting data from ADI 105. CCS 110 may beconfigured to automatically self-test, synchronize and/or start thevarious other components of ASC 100. CCS 110 may be configured to runone or more user interfaces to facilitate user interaction. An exampleof a user interface used in conjunction with CCS 110 is described ingreater detail below.

CCS 110 may be configured as any type of computing device, personalcomputer, network computer, work station, minicomputer, mainframe, orthe like running any operating system such as any version of Windows,Windows NT, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 98, Windows 95, MacOS,OS/2, BeOS, Linux, UNIX, Solaris, MVS, DOS or the like. The various CCS110 components or any other components discussed herein may include oneor more of the following: a host server or other computing systemincluding a processor for processing digital data; a memory coupled tothe processor for storing digital data; an input digitizer coupled tothe processor for inputting digital data; an application program storedin the memory and accessible by the processor for directing processingof digital data by the processor; a display device coupled to theprocessor and memory for displaying information derived from digitaldata processed by the processor; and a plurality of databases. The usermay interact with the system via any input device such as a keypad,keyboard, mouse, kiosk, personal digital assistant, handheld computer(e.g., Palm Pilot®, Blackberry®), cellular phone and/or the like.

CCS 110 may also be configured with one or more browsers, remoteswitches and/or touch screens to further facilitate access and controlof ASC 100. For example, each touch screen communicating with CCS 110can be configured to facilitate control of a section of a building'sfloor plan, with motor zones and shade zones indicated (describedfurther herein). A user may use the touch screen to select a motor zoneand/or shade zone to provide control and/or obtain control and/or alertinformation about the shade position of that particular zone, currentsky condition information, sky charts, global parameter information(such as, for example, local time and/or date information, sunriseand/or sunset information, solar altitude or azimuth information, and/orany other similar information noted herein), floor plan information(including sensor status and location) and the like. The touch screenmay also be used to provide control and/or information about thebrightness level of a local sensor, to provide override capabilities ofthe shade position to move a shade to a more desired location, and/or toprovide access to additional shade control data that is captured foreach particular zone. The browser, touch screen and/or switches may alsobe configured to log user-directed movement of the shades and/oradjustments of variable characteristics of a glass, manual over-rides ofthe shades and/or adjustments of variable characteristics of a glass,and other occupant-specific adaptations to ASC 100 and/or each shadeand/or motor zone. As another example, the browser, touch screen and/orswitches may also be configured to provide remote users access toparticular data and shade and/or glass functions depending upon eachremote user's access level. For example, the access levels may, forexample, be configured to permit only certain individuals, levels ofemployees, companies, or other entities to access ASC 100, or to permitaccess to specific ASC 100 control parameters. Furthermore, the accesscontrols may restrict/permit only certain actions such as opening,closing, and/or adjusting shades, and/or adjusting variablecharacteristics of a glass. Restrictions on radiometer controls,algorithms, and the like may also be included.

CCS 110 may also be configured to be responsive to one or more alarms,warnings, error messages, and/or the like. For example, CCS 110 may beconfigured to move one or more window coverings and/or adjust one ormore variable, characteristics of a glass responsive to a fire alarmsignal, a smoke alarm signal, or other signal, such as a signal receivedfrom a building management system. Moreover, CCS 100 may further beconfigured to generate one or more alarms, warnings, error messages,and/or the like. CCS 110 may transmit or otherwise communicate an alarmto a third party system, for example a building management system, asappropriate.

CCS 110 may also be configured with one or more motor controllers. Themotor controller may be equipped with one or more algorithms whichenable it to position the window covering based on automated and/ormanual control from the user through one or a variety of different userinterfaces which communicate to the controller. CCS 110 may providecontrol of the motor controller via hardwired low voltage dry contact,hardwired analog, hardwired line voltage, voice, wireless IR, wirelessRE or any one of a number of low voltage, wireless and/or line voltagenetworking protocols such that a multiplicity of devices including, forexample, switches, touch screens, PCs, Internet Appliances, infraredremotes, radio frequency remotes, voice commands, PDAs, cell phones,PIMs, etc. are capable of being employed by a user to automaticallyand/or manually override the position of the window covering. CCS 110and/or the motor controller may additionally be configured with a realtime clock to facilitate real time synchronization and control ofenvironmental and manual override information.

CCS 110 and/or the motor controller may also be equipped with algorithmswhich enable them to optimally position the window covering forfunction, energy efficiency, light pollution control (depending on theenvironment and neighbors), cosmetic and/or comfort automatically basedon information originating from a variety of sensing device optionswhich can be configured to communicate with the controller via any ofthe communication protocols and/or devices described herein. Theautomation algorithms within the motor controller and/or CCS 110 may beequipped to apply both proactive and reactive routines to facilitatecontrol of motors 130. Proactive and reactive control algorithms aredescribed in greater detail herein.

CCS 110 algorithms may use occupant-initiated override log data to learnwhat each local zone occupant prefers for his optimal shading. This datatracking may then be used to automatically readjust zone-specific CCS110 algorithms to adjust one or more sensors 125, motors 130, glasscontrollers 140, and/or other ASC 100 system components to the needs,preferences, and/or desires of the occupants at a local level. That is,ASC 100 may be configured to actively track each occupant's adjustmentsfor each occupied zone and actively modify CCS 110 algorithms toautomatically adapt to each adjustment for that particular occupiedzone. CCS 110 algorithms may include a touch screen survey function. Forexample, this function may allow a user to select from a menu of reasonsprior to overriding a shade position and/or a variable characteristic ofa glass from the touch screen. This data may be saved in a databaseassociated with CCS 110 and used to fine tune ASC 100 parameters inorder to minimize the need for such overrides. Thus, CCS 110 canactively learn how a building's occupants use the shades and/or theglass, and adjust to these shade and/or glass uses. In this manner, CCS110 may fine-tune, refine, and/or otherwise modify one or more proactiveand/or reactive algorithms responsive to historical data.

For example, proactive and reactive control algorithms may be used basedon CCS 110 knowledge of how a building's occupants use window coveringsand/or variable characteristics of a glass. CCS 110 may be configuredwith one or more proactive/reactive control algorithms configured toproactively input information to/from the motor controller and/or aglass controller to facilitate adaptability of ASC 100. Proactivecontrol algorithms include information such as, for example, thecontinuously varying solar angles established between the sun and thewindow opening over each day of the solar day. This solar trackinginformation may be combined with knowledge about the structure of thebuilding and window opening, as well. This structural knowledgeincludes, for example, any shadowing features of the building (such as,for example, buildings in the cityscape and topographical conditionsthat may shadow the sun's ray on the window opening at various timesthroughout the day/year). Further still, any inclination or declinationangles of the window opening (i.e., window, sloped window, and/orskylight), any scheduled positioning of the window covering throughoutthe day/year, information about the British Thermal Unit (BTU) loadimpacting the window at anytime throughout the day/year; the glasscharacteristics which affect transmission of light and heat through theglass, and/or any other historical knowledge about performance of thewindow covering in that position from previous days/years may beincluded in the proactive control algorithms. Proactive algorithms canbe setup to optimize the positioning of the window covering and/or avariable characteristic of a glass based on a typical day, worst casebright day or worst case dark day depending on the capabilities andinformation made available to the reactive control algorithms. Thesealgorithms further can incorporate at least one of the geodesiccoordinates of a building; the actual and/or calculated solar position;the actual and/or calculated solar angle; the actual and/or calculatedsolar penetration angle; the actual and/or calculated solar penetrationdepth through the window, the actual and/or calculated solar radiation;the actual and/or calculated solar intensity; the time; the solaraltitude; the solar azimuth; sunrise and sunset times; the surfaceorientation of a window; the slope of a window; the window coveringstopping positions for a window; and the actual and/or calculated solarheat gain through the window.

Additionally, proactive and/or reactive control algorithms may be usedbased on measured and/or calculated brightness. For example, CCS 110 maybe configured with one or more proactive and/or reactive controlalgorithms configured to measure and/or calculate the visible brightnesson a window. Moreover, the proactive and/or reactive control algorithmsmay curve fit (e.g. regression analysis) measured radiation and/or solarheat gain in order to generate estimated and/or measured foot-candles onthe glazing, foot-candles inside the glass, foot-candles inside theshade and class combination, and the like. Additionally, the proactiveand/or reactive control algorithms may utilize lighting information,radiation information, brightness information, reflectance information,solar heat gain, and/or any other appropriate factors to measure and/orcalculate a total foot-candle load on a structure.

Further, proactive and/or reactive control algorithms may be used basedon measured and/or calculated BTU loads on a window, glass, windowcovering, and/or the like, CCS 110 may be configured with one or moreproactive and/or reactive control algorithms configured to measureand/or calculate the BTU load on a window. Moreover, the proactiveand/or reactive control algorithms may take any appropriate actionresponsive to a measured and/or calculated BTU load, including, forexample, (i) generating a movement request to one or more ADIs 105and/or motors 130, and/or (ii) varying one or more variablecharacteristics of a glass (e.g., shading coefficient, visible lighttransmission, heat flow, reflectivity, and/or the like), for example viagenerating an instruction to one or more glass controllers 140. Forexample, CCS 110 may generate a movement request to move a windowcovering into a first position in response to a measured load of 75 BTUsinside a window. CCS 110 may generate another movement request to move awindow covering into a second position in response to a measured load of125 BTUs inside a window. CCS 110 may generate yet another movementrequest to move a window covering into a third position responsive to ameasured load of 250 BTUs inside a window, and so on. Additionally, CCS110 may calculate the position of a window covering based on a measuredand/or calculated BTU load on a window.

Moreover, CCS 110 may set one or more variable characteristics of aglass to a first value in response to a measured load of 75 BTUs insidea window. CCS 110 may set one or more variable characteristics of aglass to a second value in response to a measured load of 125 BTUsinside a window. CCS 110 may set one or more variable characteristics ofa glass to a third value responsive to a measured load of 250 BTUsinside a window, and so on. Additionally, CCS 110 may calculate adesired value for one or more variable characteristics of a glass basedon a measured and/or calculated BTU load on a window. Informationregarding measured and/or calculated BTU loads, shade positions, glasscharacteristics, and the like may be viewed on any suitable displaydevice

In various embodiments, CCS 110; may be configured with predefined BTUloads associated with positions of a window covering. For example, a“fully open” position of a window covering may be associated with a BTUload of 500 BTUs per square meter per hour. A “halfway open” positionmay be associated with a BTU load of 300 BTUs per square meter per hour.A “fully closed” position may be associated with a BTU load of 100 BTUsper square meter per hour. Any number of predefined BTU loads and/orwindow covering positions may be utilized. In this manner, CCS 110 maybe configured to move one or more window coverings into variouspredefined positions in order to modify the intensity of the solarpenetration and resulting BTU load on a structure.

Additionally, in various embodiments, CCS 110 may be configured withpredefined BTU loads associated with values of one or more variablecharacteristics of a glass. For example, a “maximum solar transmission”value or values for visible light transmission, heat flow, shadingcoefficient, reflectivity, and/or the like may be associated with a BTUload of about or exceeding 500 BTUs per square meter per hour. A“moderate solar transmission” value or values may be associated with aBTU load of about 300 BTUs per square meter per hour. A “minimum solartransmission” value or values may be associated with a BTU load of aboutor below 100 BTUs per square meter per hour. Moreover, any number ofpredefined BUT loads and/or window covering positions may be utilized.In this manner, CCS 110 may be configured to select, set, implement,and/or otherwise vary one or more variable characteristics of a glass inorder to modify the intensity of the solar penetration and resulting BTUload on a structure.

Reactive control algorithms may be established to refine the proactivealgorithms and/or to compensate for areas of the building which may bedifficult and/or unduly expensive to model. Reactive control of ASC 100may include, for example, using sensors coupled with algorithms whichdetermine the sky conditions, brightness of the external horizontal sky,brightness of the external vertical sky in any/all orientation(s),internal vertical brightness across the whole or a portion of a window,internal vertical brightness measured across the whole or a portion of awindow covered by the window covering, internal horizontal brightness ofan internal task surface, brightness of a vertical or horizontalinternal surface such as the wall, floor or ceiling, comparativebrightness between differing internal horizontal and/or verticalsurfaces, internal brightness of a PC display monitor, externaltemperature, internal temperature, manual positioning by theuser/occupant near or affected by the window covering setting, overridesof automated window covering position and/or automated settings ofvariable characteristics of glass from previous time periods, real timeinformation communicated from other motor controllers affecting adjacentwindow coverings, real time information communicated from other glasscontrollers affecting adjacent glasses, and/or the like.

Typical sensors 125 facilitating these reactive control algorithmsinclude radiometers, photometers/photosensors, motion sensors, windsensors, and/or temperature sensors to detect, measure, and communicateinformation regarding temperature, motion, wind, brightness, radiation,and/or the like, or any combination of the foregoing. For example,motion sensors may be employed in order to track one or more occupantsand change reactive control algorithms in certain spaces, such asconference rooms, during periods where people are not present in orderto optimize energy efficiency. The present disclosure contemplatesvarious types of sensor mounts. For example, types of photosensor andtemperature sensor mounts include handrail mounts (between the shade andglass), furniture mounts (e.g., on the room side of the shade), wall orcolumn mounts that look directly out the window from the room side ofthe shade, and external sensor mounts. For example, for brightnessoverride protection, one or more photosensors and/or radiometers may beconfigured to look through a specific portion of a window wall (e.g.,the part of the window wall whose view gets covered by the windowcovering at some point during the movement of the window covering). Ifthe brightness on the window wall portion is greater than apre-determined ratio, the brightness override protection may beactivated. The pre-determined ratio may be established from thebrightness of the PC/VDU or actual measured brightness of a tasksurface. Each photosensor may be controlled, for example, by closedand/or open loop algorithms that include measurements from one or morefields-of-view of the sensors. For example, each photosensor may look ata different part of the window wall and/or window covering. Theinformation from these photosensors may be used to anticipate changes inbrightness as the window covering travels across a window, indirectlymeasure the brightness coming through a portion of the window wall bylooking at the brightness reflecting off an interior surface, measurebrightness detected on the incident side of the window covering and/orto measure the brightness detected for any other field of view. Thebrightness control algorithms and/or other algorithms may also beconfigured to take into account whether any of the sensors areobstructed (for example, by a computer monitor, etc). ASC 100 may alsoemploy other sensors; for example, one or more motion sensors may beconfigured to employ stricter comfort control routines when the buildingspaces are occupied. That is, if a room's motion sensors detect a largenumber of people inside a room, ASC 100 may facilitate movement of thewindow coverings and/or adjustment of one or more variablecharacteristics of a glass to provide greater shading and cooling of theroom.

Moreover, ASC 100 may be configured to track radiation (e.g. solar raysand the like) on all glazing of a building including, for example,windows, skylights, and the like. For example, ASC 100 may track theangle of incidence of radiation; profile solar radiation and solarsurface angles; measure the wavelength of radiation; track solarpenetration based on the geometry of a window, skylight, or otheropening; track solar heat gain and intensity for some or all windows inas building; track shadow information; track reflectance information;and track radiation for some or all orientations, i.e., 360 degreesaround a building. ASC 100 may track radiation, log radiationinformation, and/or perform any other related operations or analysis inreal time. Additionally, ASC 100 may utilize one or more of trackinginformation, sensor inputs, data logs, reactive algorithms, proactivealgorithms, and the like to perform a microclimate analysis for aparticular enclosed space.

In another exemplary embodiment, the natural default operation of amotor controller, a glass controller 140, and/or other components of ASC100 in “Automatic Mode” may be governed by proactive control algorithms.When a reactive control algorithm interrupts operation of a proactivealgorithm, a motor controller and/or glass controller 140 can be set upwith specific conditions which determine how and when the motorcontroller and/or glass controller 140 can return to Automatic Mode. Forexample, this return to Automatic Mode may be based upon a configurablepredetermined time, for example 12:00 A.M. In another embodiment, ASC100 or components thereof may return to Automatic Mode at apredetermined time interval (such as an hour later), when apredetermined condition has been reached (for example, when thebrightness returns below a certain level through certain sensors), whenthe brightness detected is a configurable percentage less than thebrightness detected when a brightness override was activated, if theproactive algorithms require the window covering to further cover theshade, if the proactive algorithms require a variable characteristic ofa glass to be adjusted (for example, to reduce the visible lighttransmission), when fuzzy logic routines weigh the probability that ASC100 or one or more components thereof can move back into automatic mode(based on information regarding actual brightness measurementsinternally, actual brightness measurements externally, the profile angleof the sun, shadow conditions from adjacent buildings or structures onthe given building based on the solar altitude and/or azimuth,reflectance conditions from external buildings or environmentalconditions, and/or the like, or any combination of the same), and/or atany other manual and/or predetermined condition or control.

Motors 130 may be configured to control the movement of one or morewindow coverings. The window coverings are described in greater detailbelow. As used herein, motors 130 can include one or more motors andmotor controllers. Motors 130 may comprise AC and/or DC motors and maybe mounted within or in proximity with a window covering which isaffixed by a window using mechanical brackets attaching to the buildingstructure such that motors 130 enable the window covering to cover orreveal a portion of the window or glazing. As used herein, the termglazing refers to a glaze, glasswork, window, and/or the like. Motors130 may be configured as any type of motor configured to open, closeand/or move the window coverings at select, random, predetermined,increasing, decreasing, algorithmic and/or any other increments. Forexample, in one embodiment, motors 130 may be configured to move thewindow coverings in 1/16-inch increments in order to graduate the shademovements such that the operation of the shade is almost imperceptibleto the occupant to minimize distraction. In another embodiment, motors130 may be configured to move the window coverings in ⅛-inch increments.Motors 130 may also be configured to have each step and/or incrementlast a certain amount of time. Moreover, motors 130 may follow pre-setpositions on an encoded motor. The time and/or settings of theincrements may be any range of time and/or setting, for example, lessthan one second, one or more seconds, and/or multiple minutes, and/or acombination of settings programmed into the motor encoded, and/or thelike. In one embodiment, each ⅛-inch increment of motors 130 may lastfive seconds. Motors 130 may be configured to move the window coveringsat a virtually imperceptible rate to a structure's inhabitants. Forexample, ASC 100 may be configured to continually iterate motors 130down the window wall in finite increments thus establishing thousands ofintermediate stopping positions across a window pane. The increments maybe consistent in span and time or may vary in span and/or time acrossthe day and from day to day in order to optimize the comfortrequirements of the space and further minimize abrupt window coveringpositioning transitions which may draw unnecessary attention from theoccupants.

Motors 130 may vary between, for example, top-down, bottom-up, and evena dual motors 130 design known as fabric tensioning system (FTS) ormotor/spring-roller combination. A bottom-up, sloping, angled, and/orhorizontal design(s) may be configured to promote daylightingenvironments where light level through the top portion of the glass maybe reflected or even skydomed deep into the space. Bottom-up windowcoverings naturally lend their application towards East facing facadeswhere starting from sunrise the shade gradually moves up with the sun'srising altitude up to solar noon. Top-down designs may be configured topromote views whereby the penetration of the sun may be cutoff leaving aview through the lower portion of the glass. Top-down window coveringsnaturally lend their application towards the West facing facades wherestarting from solar noon the altitude of the sun drops the shade throughsunset. Moreover, angled and/or sloping shading may be used tocomplement horizontal, angular and/or sloping windows in the façade.

ADI 105 may be configured with one or more electrical componentsconfigured to receive information from sensors 125 and/or to transmitinformation to CCS 110. In one embodiment, ADI 105 may be configured toreceive millivolt signals from sensors 125. ADI 105 may additionally beconfigured to convert the signals from sensors 125 into digitalinformation and/or to transmit the digital information to CCS 110.

ASC 100 may comprise one or more sensors 125 such as, for example,radiometers, photometers, ultraviolet sensors, infrared sensors,temperature sensors, motion sensors, wind sensors, and the like, incommunication with ADI 105. In one embodiment, the more sensors 125 usedin ASC 100, the more error protection (or reduction) for the system.“Radiometers” as used herein, may include traditional radiometers aswell as other photo sensors configured to measure various segments ofthe solar spectrum, visible light spectrum photo sensors, infraredsensors, ultraviolet sensors, and the like. Sensors 125 may be locatedin any part of a structure. For example, sensors 125 may be located onthe roof of a building, outside a window, inside a window, on a worksurface, on an interior and/or exterior wall, and/or any other part of astructure. In one embodiment, sensors 125 are located in clear,unobstructed areas. Sensors 125 may be connected to ADI 105 in anymanner through communication links 120. In one embodiment, sensors 125may be connected to ADI 105 by low voltage wiring. In anotherembodiment, sensors 125 may be wirelessly connected to ADI 105.

Sensors 125 may additionally be configured to initialize and/orsynchronize upon starting ASC 100. For example, various sensors 125,such as radiometers, may be configured to be initially set to zero,which may correspond to a cloudy sky condition regardless of the actualsky condition. Various sensors 125 may then be configured to detectsunlight for a user-defined amount of time, for example three minutes,in order to facilitate building a data file for the sensors. After theuser-defined time has lapsed, sensors 125 may be synchronized with thisnew data file.

As discussed herein, communication links 120 may be configured as anytype of communication links such as, for example, digital links, analoglinks, wireless links, optical links, radio frequency links, TCP/IPlinks, Bluetooth links, wire links, and the like, and/or any combinationof the above. Communication links 120 may be long-range and/orshort-range, and accordingly may enable remote and/or off-sitecommunication. Moreover, communication links 120 may enablecommunication over any suitable distance and/or via any suitablecommunication medium. For example, in one embodiment, communication link120 may be configured as an RS422 serial communication link.

ASC 100 may additionally be configured with one or more databases. Anydatabases discussed herein may be any type of database, such asrelational, hierarchical, graphical, object-oriented, and/or otherdatabase configurations. Common database products that may be used toimplement the databases include DB2 by IBM (White Plains, N.Y.), variousdatabase products available from Oracle Corporation (Redwood Shores,Calif.), Microsoft Access or Microsoft SQL Server by MicrosoftCorporation (Redmond, Wash.), Base3 by Base3 systems, Paradox or anyother suitable database product. Moreover, the databases may beorganized in any suitable manner, for example, as data tables or lookuptables. Each record may be a single file, a series of files, a linkedseries of data fields or any other data structure. Association ofcertain data may be accomplished through any desired data associationtechnique such as those known or practiced in the art. For example, theassociation may be accomplished either manually or automatically.Automatic association techniques may include, for example, a databasesearch, a database merge, GREP, AGREP, SQL, and/or the like. Theassociation step may be accomplished by a database merge function, forexample, using a “key field” in pre-selected databases or data sectors.

More particularly, a “key field” partitions the database according tothe high-level class of objects defined by the key field. For example,certain types of data may be designated as a key field in a plurality ofrelated data tables and the data tables may then be linked on the basisof the type of data in the key field. The data corresponding to the keyfield in each of the linked data tables is preferably the same or of thesame type. However, data tables having similar, though not identical,data in the key fields may also be linked by using AGREP, for example.In accordance with one aspect, any suitable data storage technique maybe utilized to store data without a standard format. Data sets may bestored using any suitable technique; implementing a domain whereby adedicated file is selected that exposes one or more elementary filescontaining one or more data sets; using data sets stored in individualfiles using a hierarchical filing system; data sets stored as records ina single file (including compression, SQL accessible, hashed via one ormore keys, numeric, alphabetical by first tuple, etc.); block of binary(BLOB); stored as ungrouped data elements encoded using ISO/IEC AbstractSyntax Notation (ASN.1) as in ISO/IEC 8824 and 8825; and/or otherproprietary techniques that may include fractal compression methods,image compression methods, etc.

In one exemplary embodiment, the ability to store a wide variety ofinformation in different formats is facilitated by storing theinformation as a Block of Binary (BLOB). Thus, any binary informationcan be stored in a storage space associated with a data set. The BLOBmethod may store data sets as ungrouped data elements formatted as ablock of binary via a fixed memory offset using either fixed storageallocation, circular queue techniques, or best practices with respect tomemory management (e.g., paged memory, least recently used, etc.). Byusing BLOB methods, the ability to store various data sets that havedifferent formats facilitates the storage of data by multiple andunrelated owners of the data sets. For example, a first data set whichmay be stored may be provided by a first party, a second data set whichmay be stored may be provided by an unrelated second party, and yet athird data set which may be stored, may be provided by a third partyunrelated to the first and second party. Each of these three exemplarydata sets may contain different information that is stored usingdifferent data storage formats and/or techniques. Further, each data setmay contain subsets of data that also may be distinct from othersubsets.

As stated above, in various embodiments, the data can be stored withoutregard to a common format. However, in one exemplary embodiment, thedata set (e.g., BLOB) may be annotated in a standard manner whenprovided. The annotation may comprise a short header, trailer, or otherappropriate indicator related to each data set that is configured toconvey information useful in managing the various data sets. Forexample, the annotation may be called a “condition header,” “header,”“trailer,” or “status,” herein, and may comprise an indication of thestatus of the data set or may include an identifier correlated to aspecific issuer or owner of the data. In one example, the first threebytes of each data set BLOB may be configured or configurable toindicate the status of that particular data set (e.g., LOADED,INITIALIZED, READY, BLOCKED, REMOVABLE, or DELETED).

The data set annotation may also be used for other types of statusinformation as well as various other purposes. For example, the data setannotation may include security information establishing access levels.The access levels may, for example, be configured to permit only certainindividuals, levels of employees, companies, or other entities to accessdata sets, or to permit access to specific data sets based oninstallation, initialization, user or the like. Furthermore, thesecurity information may restrict/permit only certain actions such asaccessing, modifying, and/or deleting data sets. In one example, thedata set annotation indicates that only the data set owner or the userare permitted to delete a data set, various identified employees arepermitted to access the data set for reading, and others are altogetherexcluded from accessing the data set. However, other access restrictionparameters may also be used allowing various other employees to access adata set with various permission levels as appropriate.

One skilled in the art will also appreciate that, for security reasons,any databases, systems, devices, servers or other components of thepresent disclosure may consist of any combination thereof at a singlelocation or at multiple locations, wherein each database or systemincludes any of various suitable security features, such as firewalls,access codes, encryption, decryption, compression, decompression, and/orthe like.

The computers discussed herein may provide a suitable website or otherInternet-based graphical user interface which is accessible by users. Inone embodiment, the Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS),Microsoft Transaction Server (MTS), and Microsoft SQL Server, are usedin conjunction with the Microsoft operating system, Microsoft NT webserver software, a Microsoft SQL Server database system, and a MicrosoftCommerce Server. Additionally, components such as Access or MicrosoftSQL Server, Oracle, Sybase, Informix MySQL, Interbase, etc., may be usedto provide an Active Data Object (ADO) compliant database managementsystem.

Any of the communications (e.g., communication link 120), inputs,storage, databases or displays discussed herein may be facilitatedthrough a website having web pages. The term “web page” as it is usedherein is not meant to limit the type of documents and applications thatmight be used to interact with the user. For example, a typical websitemight include, in addition to standard HTML documents, various forms,Java applets, JavaScript, active server pages (ASP), common gatewayinterface scripts (CGI), extensible markup language (XML), dynamic HTML,cascading style sheets (CSS), helper applications, plug-ins, and thelike. A server may include a web service that receives a request from aweb server, the request including a URL(http://yahoo.com/stockquotes/ge) and an IP address (123.45.6.78). Theweb server retrieves the appropriate web pages and sends the data orapplications for the web pages to the IP address. Web services areapplications that are capable of interacting with other applicationsover a communications means, such as the Internet, Web services aretypically based on standards or protocols such as SOAP, WSDL and UDDI.Web services methods are well known in the art, and are covered in manystandard texts. See, e.g., Alex Nghiem, “IT Web Services: A Roadmap forthe Enterprise,” (2003), hereby incorporated herein by reference.

One or more computerized systems and/or users may facilitate control ofASC 100. As used herein, a user may include an employer, an employee, astructure inhabitant, a building administrator, a computer, a softwareprogram, facilities maintenance personnel, and/or any other user and/orsystem. In one embodiment, a user connected to a LAN may access ASC 100to facilitate movement of one or more window coverings and/or adjustmentof one or more variable characteristics of a glass. In anotherembodiment, ASC 100 may be configured to work with one or morethird-party shade control systems, such as, for example, Draper'sIntelliFlex© Control System. In addition and/or in an alternativeembodiment, a Building Management System (BMS), a lighting system and/oran HVAC System may be configured to control and/or communicate with ASC100 to facilitate optimum interior lighting and climate control.Further, ASC 100 may be configured to be remotely controlled and/orcontrollable by, for example, a service center. ASC 100 may beconfigured for both automated positioning of the window coverings(and/or automated control of one or more variable characteristics of aglass) and a manual override capability, either through a programmableuser interface such as a computer or through a control user interfacesuch as a switch. Additionally, ASC 100 may be configured to receiveupdated software and/or firmware programming via a remote communicationlink, such as communication link 120, ASC 100 may also be configured totransmit and/or receive information directed to operational reporting,system management reporting, troubleshooting, diagnostics, errorreporting and the like via a remote communication link. Further, ASC 100may be configured to transmit information generated by one or moresensors, such as motion sensors, wind sensors, radiometers,photosensors, temperature sensors, and the like, to a remote locationvia a remote communication link. Moreover, ASC 100 may be configured totransmit and/or receive any appropriate information via a remotecommunication link.

In one embodiment, an adaptive/proactive mode may be included. Theadaptive/proactive mode may be configured to operate upon firstinstallation for preset duration, whereby manual overrides of theautomated settings may be logged and/or critical parameters identifiedwhich update the automated routines as to when a specific zone of shadesshould be deployed to a specific position. Averaging algorithms may beemployed to minimize overcompensation. The manual override may beaccomplished via a number of methodologies based on how accessible thecapability is made to the occupant. In one embodiment, a manager orsupervisor may be in charge of manually overriding the shade settingsand/or one or more variable characteristics of a glass in order tomitigate issues where there may be a variance in comfort settingsbetween individuals. However, override capability may be provided, forexample, through switches, a telephone interface, a browser facility onthe workstation, a PDA, touch screen, switch and/or by using a remotecontrol. In open plan areas where multi-banded shades are employed, aninfrared control may be employed so that the user points directly at theshadeband which needs to be operated. Thus, an infrared sensor may beapplied by each band of a multibanded shade especially if the sensor issomewhat concealed. ASC 100 may additionally be configured with a presettimer wherein automatic operation of the window coverings and/orautomated control of one or more variable characteristics of a glasswill resume after a preset period after manual override of the system.

In another embodiment, ASC 100 is configured to facilitate control ofone or more motor zones, shade bands and/or shade zone. Each motor zonemay comprise one motor 130 for one to six shade bands. The shade zonesinclude one or more motor zones and/or floor/elevation zones. Forexample, in a building that is twelve stories high, each tenant may havesix floors. Each floor may comprise one shade zone, containing 3 motorzones. Each motor zone, in turn, may comprise 3 shade bands. A tenant onfloors three and four may access ASC 100 to directly control at leastone of the shade zones, motor zones and/or shade bands of its floors,without compromising or affecting the shade control of the othertenants.

In another embodiment, ASC 100 is configured with a “Shadow Program,” toadapt to shadows caused by nearby buildings and/or environmentalcomponents, for example hills, mountains, and the like. For example, theshadow program uses a computer model of adjacent buildings andtopography to model and characterize the shadows caused by surroundingnearby buildings on different parts of the object building. That is, ASC100 may use the shadow program to raise the shades (and/or adjust one ormore variable characteristics of a glass, for example increasing thevisible light transmission) for all motor zones and/or shade zones thatare in shadow from an adjacent building, from trees and mountains, fromother physical conditions-in, addition to buildings, and/or from anyother obstruction of any kind. This further facilitates maximization ofdaylight for the time the specific motor zones and/or shade zones are inshadow. When the shadow moves to other motor and/or shade zones (as thesun moves), ASC 100 may revert to the normal operating program protocolsand override the shadow program. Thus ASC 100 can maximize naturalinterior daylighting and help reduce artificial interior lighting needs.

In another embodiment, ASC 100 is configured with a “ReflectanceProgram,” to adapt to light reflected by reflective surfaces. As usedherein, reflectance may be considered to be beamed luminance and/orillumination from a specular surface. Light may be reflected onto abuilding by a body of water, an expanse of snow, an expanse of sand, aglass surface of a building, a metal surface of a building, and thelike. For example, the reflectance program uses a computer model ofadjacent buildings and topography to model and characterize the lightreflected by reflective surfaces onto different parts of the objectbuilding. That is, ASC 100 may use the reflectance program to move(lower and/or raise) one or more window coverings 255, for example awindow covering 255 in a motor zone and/or shade zones that are inreflected light from any reflected light surface and/or reflected lightsource of any kind. Additionally, ASC 100 may use the reflectanceprogram to adjust one or more variable characteristics of a glass, forexample glass that is in reflected light from any reflected lightsurface and/or reflected light source of any kind. In this manner,undesirable glare may be reduced. Moreover, certain types of reflectedbeamed and/or diffuse illumination may also provide additionaldaylighting, particularly when the light is directed toward a ceiling.When the reflected light moves to other motor and/or shade zones (e.g.,as the sun moves), ASC 1.00 may revert to the normal operating programprotocols and/or override the reflectance program. Thus, ASC 100 canmaximize natural interior daylighting, help reduce artificial interiorlighting needs, and/or reduce glare and other lighting conditions.

In a reflectance program, reflective objects may be defined by thecomputer as individual objects in a three-dimensional model. Moreover,reflective objects may be defined as multiple objects coupled togetheror otherwise interrelated. Moreover, each reflective object may havemultiple reflective surfaces. Each reflective object may be partially orfully, enabled or disabled (i.e., partially or fully included inreflectance calculations or omitted from reflectance calculations), inthis manner, if a particular reflective object (or any portion thereof)turns out, for example, to be less reflective than anticipated and/orinsufficiently reflective to be of concern at a particular brightnessthreshold, then that particular reflective object may be fully orpartially removed from reflectance calculations without affectingreflectance calculations for other reflective objects. Moreover, areflectance program utilized by ASC 100 may be activated or inactivated,as desired. For example, the reflectance program may be configured to beactivated if external conditions are considered to be sunny, and thereflectance program may be configured to be inactive if externalconditions are considered to be overcast and/or cloudy.

Moreover, a reflectance program utilized by ASC 100 may be configuredwith information regarding the nature of each reflective object (e.g.,dimensions, surface characteristics, compositions of materials, etc). Inthis manner, ASC 100 may respond appropriately to various types ofreflected light. For example, in the case of a reflection from abuilding, the resulting apparent position of the sun has a positivealtitude. Therefore, the reflected solar ray is coming downward onto thebuilding in question, just as a direct solar ray is always coming down.Thus, in response, ASC 100 may utilize one or more solar penetrationalgorithms in order to move a window covering incrementally downward toat least partially block the incoming reflected solar ray. In anotherexample, in the case of reflectance from a body of water such as a pond,the resulting apparent position of the sun has a negative altitude(e.g., the reflected light appears to originate from a sun shining upfrom below the horizon). In response, ASC 100 may move a window coveringto a fully closed position (and/or adjust one or more variablecharacteristics of a glass, for example decreasing visible lighttransmission) to at least partially block the incoming reflected ray.However, ASC 100 may take any desired action, may move a window coveringto any suitable location and/or into any appropriate configuration,and/or may adjust one or more variable characteristics of a glass,responsive to reflectance information, and ASC 100 is not limited to theexamples given.

In certain embodiments, ASC 100 may be configured with a minimumcalculated reflectance duration threshold before responding tocalculated reflectance information generated by a reflectance program.For example, a particular calculated portion of reflected light may becast onto a particular surface only for a limited amount of time, forexample one minute. Thus, movement of a window covering and/oradjustment of a variable characteristic of a glass responsive to thisreflected light may be unnecessary. Moreover, movement of the windowcovering and/or adjustment of a variable characteristic of a glass maynot be able to be completed before the reflected light has ceased. Thus,in an embodiment, ASC 100 is configured to respond to calculatedreflectance information only if the calculated reflected light willcontinuously impinge on a window for one (1) minute or longer. Inanother embodiment, ASC 100 is configured to respond to calculatedreflectance information only if the calculated reflected light willcontinuously impinge upon a window for five (5) minutes or longer.Moreover, ASC 100 may be configured to respond to calculated reflectanceinformation wherein the calculated reflected light will continuouslyimpinge upon a window for any desired length of time.

Additionally, ASC 100 may be configured with various reflectanceresponse times, for example advance and/or delay periods, associatedwith calculated reflectance information. For example, ASC 100 may beconfigured to move a window covering and/or adjust a variablecharacteristic of a glass before a calculated reflected light ray willimpinge on a window, for example one (1) minute before a calculatedreflected light ray will impinge on the window, ASC 100 may also beconfigured to move a window covering and/or adjust a variablecharacteristic of a glass after a calculated reflected light ray hasimpinged on a window, for example ten (10) seconds after a calculatedreflected light ray has impinged on a window. Moreover, ASC 100 may beconfigured with any appropriate advance and/or delay periods responsiveto calculated reflectance information, as desired. Additionally, theadvance and/or delay periods may vary from zone to zone. Thus, ASC 100may have a first reflectance response time associated with a first zone,a second reflectance response time associated with a second zone, and soon, and the reflectance response times associated with each zone maydiffer. Additionally, a user may update the reflectance response timeassociated with a particular zone, as desired. ASC 100 may thus beconfigured with any number of zone reflectance response times, defaultreflectance response times, user-input reflectance response times, andthe like.

In various embodiments, a reflectance program utilized by ASC 100 may beconfigured to model primary reflectance information and/or higher orderreflectance information, e.g., information regarding dispersionreflections. The reflection of light off a non-ideal surface willgenerate a primary reflection (a first order reflection) and higherorder dispersion reflections. In general, second order dispersionreflections and/or higher order dispersion reflections may be modeledprovided that sufficient information regarding the associated reflectivesurface is available (for example, information regarding materialcharacteristics, surface conditions, and/or the like). Informationregarding primary reflections from a reflective surface, as well asinformation regarding higher order reflections from the reflectivesurface, may be stored in a database associated with the reflectanceprogram. This stored information may be utilized by the reflectanceprogram to calculate the appearance of various reflected light rays.However, due to various factors (for example, absorption at thereflective surface, absorption and/or scattering due to suspendedparticles in the air, and/or the like) the calculated reflected lightrays may in fact be unobtrusive or even undetectable to a human observerwhere the calculated reflected light is calculated to fall. Thus, nochange in a position of a window covering and/or no adjustment of avariable characteristic of a glass may be needed to maintain visualcomfort. ASC 100 may therefore ignore a calculated reflected light rayin order to avoid “ghosting”—i.e., movement of window coverings and/oradjustment of a variable characteristic, of a glass for no apparentreason to a human observer.

In general, a ray of light may be reflected any number of times (e.g.,once, twice, three times, and so on). A reflectance program maytherefore model repeated reflections in order to account for reflectedlight on a particular target surface. For example, sunlight may fall ona first building with a reflective surface. The light directly reflectedoff this first building has been reflected one time; thus, this lightmay be considered once reflected light. The once reflected light maytravel across the street and contact a second reflective building. Afterbeing reflected from the second building, the once reflected lightbecomes twice reflected light. The twice reflected light may be furtherreflected to become thrice reflected light, and so on. Because modelingmultiple reflection interactions for a particular light ray results inincreased computational load, larger data sets, and other data, areflectance program may be configured to model a predetermined maximumnumber of reflections for a particular light ray in order to achieve adesired degree of accuracy regarding reflected light within a desiredcomputation time. For example, in various embodiments, a reflectanceprogram may model only once reflected light (e.g., direct reflectionsonly). In other embodiments, a reflectance program may model once andtwice reflected light. Moreover, a reflectance program may modelreflected light which has been reflected off any number of reflectivesurfaces, as desired.

Additionally, because surfaces are typically not perfectly reflective,reflected light is less intense than direct light. Thus, the intensityof light decreases each time it is reflected. Therefore, a reflectanceprogram utilized by ASC 100 may limit the maximum number of calculatedreflections for a particular light ray in order to generate calculatedreflectance information. For example, a thrice reflected light ray maybe calculated to fall on a target window. However, due to absorptioncaused by the various intermediate reflective surfaces, the intensity ofthe thrice reflected light ray may be very low, and may in fact beunobtrusive or even undetectable to a human observer. Thus, no change ina position of a window covering and/or adjustment of a variablecharacteristic of a glass may be needed to maintain visual comfort. ASC100 may therefore ignore the calculated thrice reflected light ray inorder to avoid ghosting. Additionally, ASC 100 may calculate reflectanceinformation for only a small number of reflections interactions (forexample, once reflected light or twice reflected light) in order toavoid ghosting.

In various embodiments, ASC 100 may utilize one or more data tables, forexample a window table, an elevation table, a floor table, a buildingtable, a shadow table, a reflective surface table, and the like. Awindow table may comprise information associated with one or morewindows of a building (e.g., location information, index information,and the like). An elevation table may comprise information associatedwith one or more elevations of a building (e.g., location information,index information, and the like). A floor table may comprise informationassociated with floor of a building (e.g., floor number, height fromground, and the like). A building table may comprise information about abuilding, for example, orientation (e.g., compass direction), 3-Dcoordinate information, and the like. A shadow table may compriseinformation associated with one or more objects which may at leastpartially block sunlight from striking a building, for example, theheight of a mountain, the dimensions of an adjacent building, and thelike. A reflective surfaces table may comprise information associatedwith one or more reflective surfaces, for example, 3-D coordinateinformation, and the like. In this manner, ASC 100 may calculate desiredinformation, for example, when sunlight may be reflected from one ormore reflective surfaces onto one or more locations on a building, whena portion of a building may be in a shadow cast by an adjacent building,and the like.

ASC 100 solar tracking algorithms may be configured to assess andanalyze the position of the glazing (i.e., vertical, horizontal, slopedin any direction) to determine the solar heat gain and solarpenetration, ASC 100 may also use solar tracking algorithms to determineif there are shadows and/or reflections on the glazing, window walland/or façade from the building's own architectural features. Thesearchitectural features include, but are not limited to, windows,skylights, bodies of water, overhangs, fins, louvers, and/or lightshelves. Thus, if the building is shaded by, and/or in reflected lightfrom, any of these architectural features, the window covering and/or avariable characteristic of a glass may be adjusted accordingly using ASC100 algorithms.

ASC 100 may be configured with one or more user interfaces to facilitateuser access and control. For example, as illustrated in an exemplaryscreen shot of a user interface 500 in FIG. 5, a user interface mayinclude a variety of clickable links, pull down menus 510, fill-in boxes515, and the like. User interface 500 may be used for accessing and/ordefining the wide variety of ASC 100 information used to control theshading of a building, including, for example, geodesic coordinates of abuilding; the floor plan of the building; universal shade systemcommands (e.g., add shades up, down, etc.); universal glass controlcommands (e.g., visible light transmission to maximum, visible lighttransmission to minimum, etc); event logging; the actual and calculatedsolar position; the actual and calculated solar angle; the actual andcalculated solar radiation; the actual and calculated solar penetrationangle and/or depth; the actual and/or calculated solar intensity; themeasured brightness and veiling glare across the height of the windowwall or a portion of the window (e.g. the vision panel) and/or on anyfacades, task surfaces and/or floors; shadow information; reflectanceinformation; the current time; solar declination; solar altitude; solarazimuth; sky conditions; sunrise and sunset time; location of thevarious radiometers zones; the azimuth or surface orientation of eachzone; the compass reading of each zone; the brightness at the windowzones; the incidence angle of the sun striking the glass in each zone;the window covering positions for each zone; the values for one or morevariable characteristics for each glass; the heat gain; and/or any otherparameters used or defined by the ASC 100 components, the users, theradiometers, the light sensors, the temperature sensors, and the like.

ASC 100 may also be configured to generate one or more reports based onany of the ASC 100 parameters as described above. For example, ASC 100can generate daylighting reports based on floor plans, power usage,event log data, sensor locations, shade positions, shade movements,adjustments to variable characteristics of a glass, shadow information,reflectance information, the relationship of sensor data to shademovements and/or to manual over-rides and/or the like. The reportingfeature may also allow users to analyze historical data detail. Forexample, historical data regarding shade movement and/or adjustment of avariable characteristic of a glass in conjunction with at least one ofsky condition, brightness sensor data, shadow information, reflectanceinformation, and the like, may allow users to continually optimize thesystem over time. As another example, data for a particular period canbe compared from one year to the next; providing an opportunity tooptimize the system in ways that have never been possible or practicalwith existing systems.

ASC 100 may be configured to operate in automatic mode (based uponpreset window covering movements and/or adjustments of a variablecharacteristic of a glass) and/or reactive modes (based upon readingsfrom one or more sensors 125). For example, an array of one or morevisible light spectrum photo sensors may be implemented in reactive modewhere they are oriented on the roof towards the horizon. The photosensors may be used to qualify and/or quantify the sky conditions, forexample at sunrise and/or sunset. Further, the photo sensors may beconfigured inside the structure to detect the amount of visible lightwithin a structure, ASC 100 may further communicate with one or moreartificial lighting systems to optimize the visible lighting within astructure based upon the photo sensor readings.

With reference to an exemplary diagram illustrated in FIG. 2A, anembodiment of a window system 200 is depicted. Window system 200comprises a structural surface 205 configured with one or more windows210. A housing 240 may be connected to structural surface 205. Housing240 may comprise one or more motors 130 and/or opening devices 250configured for adjusting one or more window coverings 255. Based onfactors including, for example, time of day, time of year, windowgeometry, building geometry, building environment, and the like, a solarray may achieve an actual solar penetration 260 into an enclosed spacethrough window system 200. With reference now to FIG. 2B, one or morewindow coverings 255 may be extended in order to partially and/or fullyblock and/or obstruct the solar ray in order to limit an actual solarpenetration to a programmed solar penetration 270.

With continued reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B, structural surface 205 maycomprise a wall, a steel reinforcement beam, a ceiling, a floor, and/orany other structural surface or component. Windows 210 may comprise anytype of window, including, for example, skylights and/or any other typeof openings configured for sunlight penetration. Moreover, windows 210may comprise “smart” glass having one or more variable characteristics.Housing 240 may be configured as any type of housing, including, forexample, ceramic pipes, hardware housings, plastic housings, and/or anyother type of housing. Opening devices 250 may comprise pull cords,roller bars, drawstrings, ties, pulleys, levers, and/or any other typeof device configured to facilitate adjusting, opening, closing, and/orvarying window coverings 255.

Window coverings 255 may be any type of covering for a window forfacilitating control of solar glare, brightness and veiling glare,contrasting brightness and veiling glare, illuminance ratios, solar heatgain or loss, UV exposure, uniformity of design and/or for providing abetter interior environment for the occupants of a structure supportingincreased productivity. Window coverings 255 may be any type of coveringfor a window, such as, for example, blinds, drapes, shades, Venetianblinds, vertical blinds, adjustable louvers or panels, fabric coveringswith and/or without low E coatings, mesh, mesh coverings, window slats,metallic coverings and/or the like.

Window coverings 255 may also comprise two or more different fabrics ortypes of coverings to achieve optimum shading. For example, windowcoverings 255 may be configured with both fabric and window slats.Furthermore, various embodiments may employ a dual window coveringsystem whereby two window coverings 255 of different types are employedto optimize the shading performance under two different modes ofoperation. For instance, under clear sky conditions a darker fabriccolor may face the interior of the building (weave permitting a brightersurface to the exterior of the building to reflect incident energy backout of the building) to minimize reflections and glare thus promoting aview to the outside while reducing brightness and veiling glare andthermal load on the space. Alternatively, during cloudy conditions abrighter fabric facing the interior may be deployed to positivelyreflect interior brightness and veiling glare back into the space thusminimizing gloom to promote productivity.

Window coverings 255 may also be configured to be aestheticallypleasing. For example, window coverings 255 may be adorned with variousdecorations, colors, textures, logos, pictures, and/or other features toprovide aesthetic benefits. In one embodiment, window coverings 255 areconfigured with aesthetic features on both sides of the coverings. Inanother embodiment, only one side of coverings 255 are adorned. Windowcoverings 255 may also be configured with reflective surfaces,light-absorbent surfaces, wind resistance material, rain resistancematerial, and/or any other type of surface and/or resistance. While FIG.2 depicts window coverings 255 configured within a structure, windowcoverings 255 may be configured on the outside of a structure, bothinside and outside a structure, between two window panes and/or thelike. Motors 130 and/or opening device 250 may be configured tofacilitate adjusting window coverings 255 to one or more positions alongwindow 210 and/or structural surface 205. For example, as depicted inFIGS. 2A and 2B, motor 130 and/or opening device 250 may be configuredto move window coverings 255 into any number of stop positions, such asinto four different stop positions 215, 220, 225, and 230.

Moreover, window coverings 255 may be configured to be movedindependently. For example, window coverings 255 associated with asingle window and/or set of windows may comprise a series of adjustablefins or louvers. Control of the upper fins may be separate from controlof the lower fins. Thus, light from lower fins may be directed at afirst angle to protect people and daylighting, while light from upperfins may be directed at a second angle to maximize illumination on theceiling and into the space behind the fins, in another example, windowcoverings 255 associated with a single window and/or set of windows maycomprise roller screens and/or horizontal blinds associated with a lowerportion of a single window and/or set of windows, and a series ofadjustable fins or louvers associated with an upper portion of a singlewindow and/or set of windows. Control of the lower roller screens and/orlower horizontal blinds may be separate from the upper louvers. Asbefore, the lower roller screens and/or lower horizontal blinds mayprotect people and daylighting, while the upper louvers may direct lighttoward the ceiling to maximize illumination on the ceiling and into thespace behind the louvers.

Further, window coverings 255 may comprise any number of individualcomponents, such as multiple shade tiers. For example, window coverings255 associated with a single window and/or set of windows may comprisemultiple horizontal and/or vertical tiers, for example three shadetiers—a bottom tier, a middle tier, and a top tier. Control of eachshade tier may be separate from control of each other shade tier. Thus,for example, the top shade tier may be moved down, then the middle tiermay be moved down, and then the lower tier may be moved down, and viceversa. Moreover, multiple shades may be configured to act in concert.For example, a 300 foot high window may be covered by three 100 footshades, each of which are controlled individually. However, the three100 foot shades may be configured to move in a concerted manner so as toprovide continuous or nearly continuous deployment of shading from topto bottom. Thus, multiple shade tiers may be moved in any sequenceand/or into any configuration suitable to facilitate control of one ormore parameters such as, for example, interior brightness, interiortemperature, solar heat gain, and the like.

Stop positions 215, 220, 225, and 230 may be determined based on the skytype. That is, CCS 110 may be configured to run one or more programs toautomatically control the movement of the motorized window coverings 255unless a user chooses to manually override the control of some or all ofthe coverings 255. One or more programs may be configured to move windowcoverings 255 to shade positions 215, 220, 225, and 230 depending on avariety of factors, including, for example, latitude, the time of day,the time of year, the measured solar radiation intensity, theorientation of window 210, the extent of solar penetration 235, shadowinformation, reflectance information, and/or any other user-definedmodifiers. Additionally, window coverings 255 may be configured tospecially operate under a severe weather mode, such as, for example,during hurricanes, tornadoes, and the like. While FIGS. 2A and 2B depictfour different stop positions, ASC 100 may comprise any number of shadeand/or stop positions for facilitating automated shade control.

For example, shading on a building may cause a number of effects,including, for example, reduced heat gain, a variation in the shadingcoefficient, reduced visible light transmission to as low as 0-1%,lowered “U” value with the reduced conductive heat flow from “hot tocold” (for example, reduced heat flow into the building in summer),and/or reduced heat flow through the glazing in winter. Window coverings255 may be configured with lower “U” values to facilitate bringing thesurface temperature of the inner surface of window coverings 255 closerto the room temperature. That is, to facilitate making the inner surfaceof window coverings 255 i.e. cooler than the glazing in the summer andwarmer than the glazing in the winter. As a result, window coverings 255may help occupants near the window wall to not sense the warmer surfaceof the glass and therefore feel more comfortable in the summer andrequire less air conditioning. Similarly, window coverings 255 may helpduring the winter months by helping occupants maintain body heat whilesitting adjacent to the cooler glass, and thus require lower interiorheating temperatures. The net effect is to facilitate a reduction inenergy usage inside the building by minimizing room temperaturemodifications.

ASC 100 may be configured to operate in a variety of sky modes tofacilitate movement of window coverings 255 and/or adjustment of one ormore variable characteristics of windows 210 for optimum interiorlighting. The sky modes include, for example, overcast mode, night mode,clear sky mode, partly cloudy mode, sunrise mode, sunset mode and/or anyother user configured operating mode. ASC 100 may be configured to useclear sky solar algorithms developed by the American Society of Heating,Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and/or any otherclear sky solar algorithms known or used to calculate and quantify skymodels. For example, and with reference to FIG. 4, the ASHRAE model 400may include a curve of the ASHRAE theoretical clear sky solar radiation405 as a function of time 410 and the integrated solar radiation value415. Time 410 depicts the time from sunrise to sunset. The measuredsolar radiation values 420 may then be plotted to show the measuredvalues to the calculated clear sky values, ASHRAE model 400 may be usedto facilitate tracking sky conditions throughout the day. CCS 110 may beconfigured to draw a new ASHRAE model 400 every hour, every day, and/orat any other user-defined time interval. Additionally, ASC 100 may beconfigured to compare measured solar radiation values 420 to thresholdlevel 425. Threshold level 425 may represent a percentage of ASHRAEcalculated clear sky solar radiation 405. When measured solar radiationvalues 420 exceed threshold level 425. ASC 100 may be configured tooperate in a first sky mode, such as clear sky mode. Similarly, whenmeasured solar radiation values 420 do not exceed threshold level 425,ASC may be configured to operate in a second sky mode, such as overcastmode.

ASC 100 may use the ASHRAE clear sky models in conjunction with one ormore inputs from one or more sensors 125, such as radiometers, tomeasure the instantaneous solar radiation levels within a structureand/or to determine the sky mode, CCS 110 may be configured to sendcommands to motors 130 and/or window openings 250 to facilitateadjustment of the position of window coverings 255 in accordance withthe sky mode, the solar heat gain into the structure, the solarpenetration into the structure, ambient illumination and/or any otheruser defined criteria. Moreover, CCS 110 may be configured to sendcommands to glass controllers 140 to facilitate adjustment of one ormore variable characteristics of windows 210 in accordance with the skymode, the solar heat gain into the structure, the solar penetration intothe structure, ambient illumination and/or any other user definedcriteria.

For example, in one embodiment, the ASHRAE model can be used to providea reduced heat gain which is measured by the shading coefficient factorof a fabric which varies by density, weave and color. In addition thewindow covering, when extended over the glass, may add a “U” Value(reciprocal to “R” value) and reduce conductive heat gain (i.e.reduction in temperature transfer by conduction.)

For example, with reference to a flowchart exemplified in FIG. 3, CCS110 may be configured to receive solar radiation readings from one ormore sensors 125, such as radiometers (step 301), CCS 110 may thendetermine whether any of the sensor readings are out-of-range, thusindicating an error (step 303). If any of the readings/values areout-of-range, CCS 110 may be configured to average the readings of thein-range sensors to obtain a compare value (step 305) for comparisonwith an ASHRAE clear sky solar radiation model (step 307). If allreadings are in-range, then each sensor value may be compared to atheoretical solar radiation value predicted by the ASHRAE clear skysolar radiation model (step 307). That is, each sensor 125 may have areading that indicates a definable deviation in percentage from theASHRAE clear sky theoretical value. Thus, if the sensor readings are alla certain percentage from the theoretical value, it can be determinedthat the conditions are cloudy or clear (step 308).

CCS 110 may also be configured to calculate and/or incorporate the solarheat gain (SHG) period for one or more zones (step 309). By calculatingthe SHG, CCS 110 may communicate with one or more sun sensors configuredwithin ASC 100. The sun sensors may be located on the windows, in theinterior space, on the exterior of a structure and/or at any otherlocation to facilitate measuring the solar penetration and/or solarradiation and/or heat gain at that location. CCS 110 may be configuredto compare the current position of one or more window coverings 255 topositions based on the most recent calculated SHG to determine whetherwindow coverings 255 should be moved. Moreover, CCS 110 may beconfigured to compare a current value of one or more variablecharacteristics of window 210 to values based on the most recentcalculated SHG to determine whether one or more variable characteristicsof window 210 should be adjusted. CCS 110 may additionally determine thetime of the last movement of window coverings 255 (and/or the time ofthe last adjustment of a variable characteristic of window 210) todetermine, if another movement (or adjustment) is needed. For example,if the user-specified minimum time interval has not yet elapsed, thenCCS 110 may be configured to ignore the latest SHG and not move windowcoverings 255 and/or adjust a variable characteristic of window 210(step 311). Alternately, CCS 110 may be configured to override theuser-defined time interval for window coverings 255 movements and/oradjustments of a variable characteristic of window 210. Thus, CCS 110,may facilitate movement of coverings 255 to correspond to the latest SHGvalue and/or adjustment of a variable characteristic of window 210 tocorrespond to the latest SHG value (step 313).

While FIG. 3 depicts the movement of window coverings 255 and/oradjustment of a variable characteristic of window 210 in a specificmanner with specific steps, any number of these steps may be used tofacilitate movement of window coverings 255 and/or adjustment of avariable characteristic of window 210. Further, while a certain order ofsteps is presented, any of the steps may occur in any order. Furtherstill, while the method of FIG. 3 anticipates using sensors and/or theSHG to facilitate movement of window coverings 255 and/or adjustment ofa variable characteristic of window 210, a variety of additional and/oralternative factors may be used by CCS 110 to facilitate movement and/oradjustment, such as, for example, the calculated solar radiationintensity incident on each zone, user requirements for light pollutions,structural insulation factors, light uniformity requirements, seasonalrequirements, and the like.

For example, ASC 100 may be configured to employ a variety of iterationsfor the movement of window coverings 255 and/or adjustment of a variablecharacteristic of window 210. In one embodiment, ASC 100 may beconfigured to use a Variable Allowable Solar Penetration Program(VASPP), wherein ASC 100 may be configured to apply different maximumsolar penetration settings based on the time of the year. These solarpenetrations may be configured to vary some of the operation of ASC 100because of the variations in sun angles during the course of a year. Forexample, in the wintertime (in North America), the sun will be at alower angle and thus sensors 125, such as radiometers and/or any othersensors used in accordance with principles of the present disclosure,may detect maximum BTUs, and there may be high solar penetration into astructure. That is, the brightness and veiling glare on the south andeast orientations of the building will have substantial sunshine andbrightness on the window wall for the winter months, for extendedperiods of the day from at least 10 am to 2 pm. Under these situations,the allowable solar penetration setting of ASC 100 may be set lower tofacilitate more protection due to the lower solar angles and higherbrightness and veiling glare levels across the façade of the structure.In another embodiment, a shade cloth with a medium to medium dark valuegrey to the out side and a light medium grey to the interior at 2-3%openness, depending on the interior color may be used to controlbrightness, maximize view and allow for the more open fabric.

In contrast, in the summertime, the sun will be at a higher angleminimizing BTU load, thus the allowable solar penetration for ASC 100may be set higher to facilitate viewing during clear sky conditions. Forexample, the north, northwest and northeast orientations generally havemuch lower solar loads year round but do have the orb of the sun in theearly morning and the late afternoon in summer, and may have brightnesslevels that exceed 2000 NITS; 5500 Lux (current window brightnessdefault value) at various times of the year and day however for shorterperiods. These high solar intensities are most prevalent during thethree month period centered on June 21, the summer solstice. To combatthis, ASC 100 may be configured so that the higher solar penetrationdoes not present a problem with light reaching an uncomfortable positionwith regard to interior surfaces. Under these conditions, the VASPP maybe configured with routine changes in solar penetration throughout theyear, for example, by month or by changes in season (i.e., by theseasonal solstices). A minimum BTU load (“go”/“no-go”) may additionallybe employed in ASC 100 whereby movement of window coverings 255 and/oradjustment of a variable characteristic of window 210 may not commenceunless the BTU load on the façade of a structure is above a certainpreset level.

The VASPP may also be configured to adjust the solar penetration basedon the solar load on the glass. For example, if the south facingelevation has a stairwell, it may have a different solar penetrationrequirement than the office area and different from the corner at thewest elevation. Light may filter up and down the stairwell causingshades to move asymmetrically. As a result, window coverings 255 may belowered or raised (and/or a variable characteristic of window 210 may beadjusted) based upon the sun angle and solar heat gain levels (which mayor may not be confirmed by active sensors before making adjustments).The VASPP may also be configured with an internal brightness and veilingglare sensor to facilitate fine-tuning of the levels of window coverings255 and/or values of a variable characteristic of window 210.Additionally, there may be one or more pre-adjusted set position pointsof window coverings 255 and/or one or more pre-adjusted values of avariable characteristic of window 210 based on a day/brightnessanalysis. The day/brightness analysis may factor in any one or more of,for example, estimated BTU loads, sky conditions, daylight times,veiling glare, averages from light sensors and/or any other relevantalgorithms and/or data.

In another exemplary embodiment, one or more optical photo sensors maybe located in the interior, exterior or within a structure. The photosensors may facilitate daylight/brightness sensing and averaging forreactive protection of excessive brightness and veiling glare due toreflecting surfaces from the surrounding cityscape or urban landscape.These bright reflective surfaces may include but are not limited to,reflective glass on adjacent buildings, water surfaces, sand, snow,and/or any other bright surfaces exterior to the building which underspecific solar conditions will send visually debilitating reflectivelight into the building.

In one exemplary method, the sensors may be located about 30-36 inchesfrom the floor and about 6-inches from the fabric to emulate the fieldof view (FOV) from a desk top. One or more additional sensors may detectlight by looking at the light through window coverings 255 while itmoves through the various stop positions and/or while window 210 movesthrough various values of one or more adjustable characteristics ofwindow 210. The FOV sensors and the additional sensors may be averagedto determine the daylight levels. If the value of daylight levels isgreater than a default value, ASC 100 may enter a brightness overridemode and move window coverings 255 to another position and/or adjust avariable characteristic of window 210. If the daylight levels do notexceed the default value, ASC 100 may not enter a brightness overridemode and thus not move window coverings 255 and/or adjust a variablecharacteristic of window 210. Afterwards, ASC 100 may be configured forfine-tuning the illuminance levels of the window wall by averaging theshaded and unshaded portion of the window. Fine tuning may be used toadjust the field of view from a desk top in accordance with the season,interior, exterior, and furniture considerations and/or task andpersonal considerations.

In another embodiment, ASC 100 may be configured with about 6-10 photosensors positioned in the following exemplary locations: (1) one photosensor looking at the fabric at about 3 feet 9 inches off the floor andabout 3 inches from the fabric at a south elevation; (2) one sensorlooking at the glass at about 3 feet 6 inches off the floor and about 3inches from the glass at a south elevation; (3) one sensor looking atthe dry wall at a south elevation; (4) one sensor mounted on a desk-toplooking at the ceiling; (5) one sensor mounted outside the structurelooking south; (6) one sensor mounted outside the structure lookingwest; (7) one sensor about 3 inches from the center of the extendedwindow coverings 255 when window coverings 255 is about 25% closed; (8)one sensor about 3 inches from the center of the extended windowcoverings 255 when coverings 255 is about 25% to 50% closed; (9) onesensor about 3 inches from the center of the glass; and (10) one sensorabout 3 inches from the middle of the lower section of a window,approximately 18 inches off the floor. In one embodiment, ASC 100 mayaverage the readings from, for example, sensors 10 and 7 describedabove. If the average is above a default value and the ASC has not movedwindow coverings 255 and/or adjusted a variable characteristic of window210, coverings 255 may be moved to an about 25% closed position. Next,ASC 100 may average the readings from sensors 10 and 8 to determinewhether window coverings 255 should be moved again.

In another embodiment, ASC 100 may be configured to average the readingfrom sensors 2 and 1 above. ASC 100 may use the average of these twosensors to determine a “go” or “no go” value. That is, if the classsensor (sensor 2) senses too much light and ASC 100 has not moved windowcoverings 255 and/or adjusted a variable characteristic of window 210,coverings 255 will be moved to a first position and/or a variablecharacteristic of window 210 will be adjusted, ASC 100 will then averagethe glass sensor (sensor 2) and the sensor looking only at light throughthe fabric (sensor 1). If this average value is greater then auser-defined default value, window coverings 255 may be moved to thenext position and/or a variable characteristic of window 210 will beadjusted and this process will be repeated. If ASC 100 has previouslydictated a window covering position and/or a variable characteristic ofwindow 210 based upon the solar geometry and sky conditions (asdescribed above), ASC 100 may be configured to override this positioningto lower and/or raise window coverings 255 and/or adjust a variablecharacteristic of window 210. If the average light levels on the twosensors drop below the default value, the positioning and/or values fromthe solar geometry and sky conditions will take over.

In another similar embodiment, a series of photo sensors may be employeddiscreetly behind an available structural member such as a column orstaircase whereby, for example, these sensors may be locatedapproximately 3 to 5 feet off the fabric and glass surfaces. Foursensors may be positioned across the height of the window wallcorresponding in mounting height between each of potentially fivealignment positions (including full up and full down). These sensors mayeven serve a temporary purpose whereby the levels detected on thesesensors may be mapped over a certain time period either to existingceiling mounted photo sensors already installed to help control thebrightness and veiling glare of the lighting system in the space or evento externally mounted photo sensors in order to ultimately minimize theresources required to instrument the entire building.

In another exemplary embodiment, ASC 100 may be configured with one ormore additional light sensors that look at a window wall. The sensorsmay be configured to continuously detect and report the light levels asthe shades move down the window and/or as a variable characteristic ofwindow 210 is adjusted. ASC 100 may use these light levels to computethe luminous value of the entire window walls, and it may use thesevalues to facilitate adjustment of the shades and/or adjustment of avariable characteristic of window 210. In one embodiment, threedifferent sensors are positioned to detect light from the window wall.In another embodiment, two different sensors are positioned to detectlight from the window wall. A first sensor may be positioned to view thewindow shade at a position corresponding to window coverings 255 beingabout 25% closed, and a second sensor may be positioned to view thewindow at a position of about 75% closed. The sensors may be used tooptimize light threshold, differentiate between artificial and naturallight, and/or utilize a brightness and veiling glare sensor to protectagainst overcompensation for brightness and veiling glare. This methodmay also employ a solar geometry override option. That is, if the lightvalues drop to a default value, the movement of window coverings 255and/or adjustment of a variable characteristic of window 210 may becontrolled by solar geometric position instead of light levels.

Additionally, ASC 100 may be configured with one or more sensors lookingat a dry interior wall. The sensors may detect interior illuminance andcompare this value with the average illuminance of one or more sensorslooking at the window wall. This ratio may be used to determine thepositioning of window coverings 255 (and/or values for one or morevariable characteristics of window 210) by causing coverings 255 to moveup or down (and/or by adjusting one or more variable characteristics ofwindow 210) in order to achieve an interior lighting ratio of dry wallilluminance to window wall illuminance ranging from about, for example,9:1 to 15:1. Other industry standard configurations employ illuminanceratios of 3:1 regarding a 30 degree cone of view (central field ofvision) around the VDU (Video Display Unit), 10:1 regarding a 90 degreecone of view around the VDU and a ratio of 30:1 regarding backilluminance to the VDU. Sensors may be placed strategically throughoutthe room environment in order to bring data to the controller to supportthese types of algorithms.

In yet another embodiment, ASC 100 may also be configured to accommodatetransparent window facades following multi-story stair sections whichtend to promote a “clerestory-like” condition down a stairway (i.e., theupper portion of a wall that contains windows supplies natural light toa building). ASC 100 may be configured to use the solar trackingalgorithm to consider a double-height façade to ensure that thepenetration angle of the sun is properly accounted for and controlled.For example, the geometry of a window (including details such as height,overhangs, fins, position in the window wall, and/or the like) may beprogrammed into ASC 100, which then calculates the impact of a solar rayon the window. The photo sensor placement and algorithms may be placedto help detect and overcome any overriding brightness and veiling glareoriginating from reflections from light penetration through the upperfloors.

In another embodiment, ASC 100 may employ any combination of photosensors located on the exterior of the building and/or the interiorspace to detect uncomfortable light levels during sunrise and sunsetwhich override the window covering settings and/or values for variablecharacteristics of a glass established by the solar tracking under theseconditions.

In another embodiment, ASC 100 may be configured to detect brightovercast days and establish the appropriate window covering settingsand/or values for variable characteristics of a glass under theseconditions. Bright overcast days tend to have a uniform brightness inthe east and west while the zenith tends to be approximately one-thirdthe brightness of the horizons which is contrary to a bright, clear daywhere the zenith is typically three times brighter than the horizon.Exterior sensors 125, such as photo sensors and/or radiometers, may beconfigured to detect these conditions. Under these conditions, thewindow coverings (top-down) may be pulled down to just below the deskheight in order to promote proper illumination at the desk surface whileproviding a view to the cityscape. Internal photo sensors may also behelpful in determining this condition and may allow the window coveringsto conic down to only 50% and yet preserve the brightness and veilingglare comfort derived by illuminance ratios in the space. For example,various sensors 125, such as photosensors and/or radiometers, may beplaced on all sides and/or roof surfaces of a building. For example, arectangular building with a flat roof may have various sensors 125placed on all four sides of the building and on the roof. Thus, ASC 110may detect directional sunlighting on a clear day. Additionally, ASC 110may detect a bright overcast condition, wherein sunlighting may have arelatively diffuse, uniform luminous character. Accordingly, ASC 110 mayimplement various algorithms in order to control excessive skybrightness. Moreover, ASC 100 may comprise any various sensors 125placed on all sides and/or facades of a building which has manyorientations due to the shape of the building and/or the directions abuilding façade faces.

In various embodiments, overriding sensors 125 may also be strategicallyplaced on each floor and connected to ASC 100 to help detect glarereflections from the urban landscape as well as to handle changes madein the urban landscape and ensure the proper setting for the shadesand/or variable characteristics of a glass to maintain visual comfort.These sensors 125 may also be employed to help reduce veiling glare andbrightness problems at night in urban settings where minimal signagethresholds imposed on surrounding buildings and the instrumentedbuilding may pose unusual lighting conditions which may be difficult tomodel. In some cases, these situations may be static, whereby a sensor125 may be unnecessary and a timer may simply be employed to handlethese conditions based on occupancy which is information that may beprovided from the building's lighting system. Moreover, a reflectancealgorithm may be employed by ASC 100 in order to account for reflectedlight, including reflected sunlight, reflected artificial light fromnearby sources, and the like.

In accordance with various embodiments, and with reference now to FIG.6, ASC 100 may be configured to implement an algorithm, such asalgorithm 600, incorporating at least one of solar heat gaininformation, sky condition information, shadow information, reflectanceinformation, information regarding one or more variable characteristicsof a glass, solar profile information and/or solar penetrationinformation. CCS 110 may be configured to receive information from oneor more sensors 125, such as radiometers or other total solar measuringsensors (step 601). CSS 110 may then compare the received information toone or more model values (step 603). Based on the results of thecomparison, CCS 110 may determine if the sky conditions are cloudy orclear (step 605). CCS 110 may then calculate the solar heat gain for theinterior space in question (step 607), CCS 110 may then evaluate if thesolar heat gain is above a desired threshold (step 609). If the solarheat gain is below a desired threshold, for example, one or more actionsmay be taken. For example, (i) a window covering may be moved at leastpartially toward to a fully opened position, and/or (ii) one or morecharacteristics of a glass (e.g., shading coefficient, visible lighttransmission, reflectivity, heat flow, and/or the like) may be variedvia electrical control, for example in order to increase heat flowand/or visible light transmission (step 611). Correspondingly, if (i)one or more window coverings are already in a fully opened position, thewindow coverings may not be moved. Additionally, if one or more variablecharacteristics of a glass are already at or near desired values, thevariable characteristics may not be changed.

Continuing to reference FIG. 6, if the solar heat gain is above adesired threshold, CCS 110 may use sky condition information determinedin step 605 to evaluate the need to take an action, such as moving oneor more window coverings, and/or varying one or more variablecharacteristics of a glass (step 613). If the sky conditions aredetermined to be overcast, (i) one or more window coverings may be movedat least partially toward a fully opened position and/or kept in a fullyopened position, and/or (i) one or more variable characteristics of aglass may be modified (for example, to reduce the heat flow and/orvisible light transmission of a glass) (step 615). If the sky conditionsare determined to be clear, CCS 110 may use at least one of shadowinformation, reflectance information, and the like, to determine if oneor more windows in question are exposed to sunlight (step 617). If theone or more windows in question are not exposed to sunlight, (i) the oneor more window coverings may be moved at least partially toward a fullyopened position and/or kept in a fully opened position, and/or (ii) oneor more variable characteristics of a glass may be modified (forexample, to increase the visible light transmission of a glass, and/orreduce the shading coefficient) (step 619). If the one or more windowsin question are exposed to sunlight, CCS 110 may calculate and/ormeasure the profile angle and/or incident angle of the sunlight (step621).

With continued reference to FIG. 6, based on information including butnot limited to solar profile angle, solar incident angle, windowgeometry, budding features, position of one or more window coverings,shadow information, reflectance information, variable characteristics ofa glass, sky conditions and/or the like, CCS 110 may then calculate thecurrent solar penetration. If the current solar penetration is below athreshold solar penetration (step 623), (i) one or more windowscoverings may be moved at least partially toward a fully open positionand/or kept in a fully opened position, and/or (ii) one or more variablecharacteristics of a glass may be modified (for example, to increase thevisible light transmission of a glass, and/or reduce the shadingcoefficient) (step 625). Alternatively, if the current solar penetrationis above a threshold solar penetration, CCS 110 may take an action, forexample (i) issuing instructions configured to move one or more windowcoverings at least partway toward a fully closed position in order toreduce the current solar penetration below the threshold solarpenetration, and/or (ii) issuing instructions configured to modify oneor more variable characteristics of a glass (for example, to decreasethe visible light transmission of a glass, and/or reduce the shadingcoefficient) (step 627).

Moreover, in certain embodiments, CCS 110 and/or ASC 100 may beconfigured with a delay period before responding to information receivedfrom a sensor (for example, reflectance information, brightnessinformation, shadow information, and/or the like). For example, certainreflected light, such as light reflected from a moving vehicle, may becast onto a particular surface only for a limited amount of time. Thus,movement of a window covering (and/or varying a variable characteristicof a glass) responsive to this reflected light may be unnecessary.Moreover, movement of the window covering (and/or varying a variablecharacteristic of a glass) may not be able to be completed before thereflected light has ceased. Additionally, responding to repeatedtransient reflected light rays (e.g., reflections from a procession ofvehicles, from the unsettled surface of a body of water, and the like)may result in near-constant window covering movement (and/or frequentvariation of one or more variable characteristics of a glass) in anattempt to keep up with the ever-changing lighting conditions. Inanother example, a certain shadow condition may only persist for a briefperiod of time, for example a shadow condition caused by the sun beingmomentarily obscured by a cloud. Therefore, movement of a windowcovering (and/or varying a variable characteristic of a glass)responsive to this change in lighting may be unnecessary.

Thus, in an embodiment, ASC 100 and/or CCS 110 are configured to respondto information from a sensor only after the sensor has reported achanged lighting condition (e.g., the appearance of reflected light, theappearance of shadow, and/or the like) persisting for a selected periodof time, for example five (5) seconds. In another embodiment, ASC 100and/or CCS 110 are configured to respond to information from a sensoronly after the sensor has reported a changed lighting conditionpersisting for ten (10) seconds. In another embodiment, ASC 100 and/orCCS 110 are configured to respond to information from a sensor onlyafter the sensor has reported a changed lighting condition persistingfor sixty (60) seconds. Moreover, any suitable response time may beutilized, and the foregoing examples are by way of illustration and notof limitation. Additionally, ASC 100 and/or CCS 110 may have a firstresponse time associated with a first zone, a second response timeassociated with a second zone, and so on, and the response timesassociated with each zone may differ. A user may update the responsetime associated with a particular zone, as desired. ASC 100 and/or CCS110 may thus be configured with any number of zone response times,default response times, user-input response times, and the like.

Turning now to FIG. 7, and in accordance with various embodiments, ASC100 may be configured to implement an algorithm, such as algorithm 700,incorporating brightness information, CCS 110 may be configured toreceive brightness information from one or more photosensors. CCS 110may also be configured to receive information from other sensors, suchas radiometers, ultraviolet sensors, infrared sensors, and the like(step 701), CCS 110 may then evaluate the current luminance, and comparethe current luminance to a threshold luminance (step 703). If thecurrent luminance exceeds a threshold luminance, CCS 110 may implement abrightness override, and (i) one or more window coverings may be movedat least partway toward a fully closed position, and/or (ii) one or morevariable characteristics of a glass may be modified (for example, todecrease the visible light transmission of a glass, and/or increase theshading coefficient) (step 705). If the current luminance does notexceed a threshold luminance, CCS 110 may not implement a brightnessoverride, and (i) one or more window coverings may be left in theircurrent positions and/or moved at least partway toward a fully openposition, and/or (ii) one or more variable characteristics of a glassmay be left in their current state and/or modified (for example, toincrease the visible light transmission of a glass, and/or reduce theshading coefficient) (step 707).

Moreover, ASC 100 may be configured to utilize one or more externalsensors, for example visible light sensors, in order to implement abrightness override. In this manner, individual building zone brightnesssensors may be reduced and/or eliminated, leading to significant costsavings, as the building zone brightness sensors may be costly topurchase and/or install, and difficult to calibrate and/or maintain.Moreover, ASC 100 may be configured to utilize one or more interiorphoto sensors in conjunction with one or more external photo sensors inorder to determine if a brightness override is needed for any of themotor zones in a particular building.

With reference now to FIG. 8, and in accordance with variousembodiments, ASC 100 may be configured to implement an algorithm, suchas algorithm 800, incorporating shadow information, CCS 110 may beconfigured to query a shadow model (step 801) which may containinformation regarding shadowing of a building due to the environment,such as nearby structures, landscape features (e.g., mountains, hills,and the like), and other items which may cast a shade onto a building atany point during a day and/or year. CCS 110 may then evaluate thecurrent shadow information to determine if one or more windows and/ormotor zones are in a shadowed condition (step 803). If the one or morewindows and/or motor zones are shadowed, CCS 110 may implement a shadowoverride, and (i) one or more window coverings may be moved at leastpartway toward a fully open position, and/or (ii) one or more variablecharacteristics of a glass may be modified (for example, to increase thevisible light transmission of a glass, and/or reduce the shadingcoefficient) (step 805). If one or more windows and/or motor zones arenot shadowed, CCS 110 may not implement a shadow override, and (i) oneor more window coverings may be left in their current positions and/ormoved at least partway towards a fully closed position, and/or (ii) oneor more variable characteristics of a glass may be left in their currentstate and/or modified (for example, to decrease the visible lighttransmission of a glass, and/or increase the shading coefficient) (step807). Additionally, CCS 110 may be configured to not implement a shadowoverride if one or more windows and/or motor zones will be shadowed fora limited period of time, such as between about one minute and thirtyminutes. Moreover, CCS 110 may be configured to not implement a shadowoverride if one or more windows and/or motor zones will be shadowed forany desired length of time.

In various embodiments, CCS 110 may be configured to implement a shadowoverride when ASC 100 is operating in clear sky mode. In other variousembodiments, CCS 110 may be configured to implement a shadow overridewhen ASC 100 observes measured solar radiation equal to or in excess of75 percent of ASHRAE calculated clear sky solar radiation. Moreover, incertain various embodiments, CCS 110 may be overridden by a brightovercast sky mode calculation wherein (i) one or more window coveringsare moved to a predetermined position, for example 50% of fully open,and/or (ii) one or more variable characteristics of a glass may be setto a predetermined value (for example, visible light transmission offrom about 0.3 to about 0.9, a shading coefficient of from about 0.3 toabout 0.9, and/or the like).

With reference now to FIG. 9, and in accordance with variousembodiments, ASC 100 may be configured to implement an algorithm (e.g.,algorithm 900) incorporating reflectance information, CCS 110 may beconfigured to query a reflectance model (step 901) which may containinformation regarding light reflected onto a building due to theenvironment, for example by reflective components of nearby structures,landscape features (e.g., water, sand, snow, and the like), and otheritems which may reflect light onto a building at any point during anytime period (e.g., day, season, year). CCS 110 may then evaluate thecurrent reflectance information to determine if one or more windowsand/or motor zones are in a reflectance condition (step 903). Ifreflected light is cast on at least a portion of one or more windowsand/or motor zones, the window and/or motor zone may be deemed to be ina reflectance condition. Moreover, if only a subset of the windowscomprising a motor zone is in a reflectance condition, that motor zonemay be considered to be in a reflectance condition.

However, ASC 100 may be configured to assess each window in a motor zoneand determine if each window is in a non-reflectance condition (e.g., noreflected light is falling on the window), a full reflectance condition(e.g., reflected light is falling on all portions of the window), apartial reflectance condition (e.g., reflected light is falling on onlya portion of the window), and the like. ASC 100 may thus consider awindow and/or motor zone to be in a reflectance condition based on auser preference. For example, in an embodiment, ASC 100 is configured toconsider a window to be in a reflectance condition when the window isfully or partially in reflected light. In other embodiments, ASC 100 isconfigured to consider a window to be in a reflectance condition whenthe window is fully in reflected light. In still other embodiments, ASC100 is configured to consider a window to be in a reflectance conditionwhen at least 10% of the window is in reflected light. Moreover, ASC 100may consider a window to be in a reflectance condition by using anyappropriate thresholds, measurements, and/or the like.

If the one or more windows and/or motor zones are in reflected light,CCS 110 may implement a reflectance override, and (i) one or more windowcoverings may be moved at least partway toward a fully closed position,and/or (ii) one or more variable characteristics of a glass may bemodified (for example, to decrease the visible light transmission of aglass, decrease the heat flow, and/or increase the shading coefficient)(step 905). If one or more windows and/or motor zones are not inreflected light, CCS 110 may not implement a reflectance override, and(i) one or more window coverings may be left in their current positionsand/or moved at least partway towards a fully open position, and/or (ii)one or more variable characteristics of a glass may be left in theircurrent state and/or modified (for example, to increase the visiblelight transmission of a glass, increase the heat flow, and/or decreasethe shading coefficient) (step 907). Additionally, CCS 110 may beconfigured to not implement a reflectance override in response to one ormore windows and/or motor zones being in reflected light for a limitedperiod of time, such as between about one minute and thirty minutes.Moreover, CCS 110 may be configured to not implement a reflectanceoverride if one or more windows and/or motor zones will be in reflectedlight for any desired length of time.

ASC 100 may further be configured to enable and/or disable a reflectanceoverride based on any suitable criteria, for example: the current ASHRAEand/or radiometer sky data readings (i.e., full spectrum information);the sky data readings from one or more photometers (i.e., oriented inany suitable manner, for example east-facing, west-facing,zenith-oriented, and/or the like); a combination of radiometer andphotometer data readings; and/or the like. Moreover, data from one ormore photometers may be utilized by ASC 100 in order to calculate theneed for a reflectance override. However, data from one or moreradiometers may also be utilized. Further, in various embodiments, ASC100 may be configured to implement various averaging algorithms,thresholds, and the like in order to reduce the need for (i) repeatedmovements or “cycling” of one or more window coverings 255, and/or GOrepeated variation of one or more variable characteristics of a glass.

In various embodiments, CCS 110 may be configured to implement areflectance override when ASC 100 is operating in clear sky mode.However, CCS 110 may also implement a reflection override, for exampleresponsive to radiometer sky data, when ASC is operating in any mode. Inother various embodiments, CCS 110 may be configured to implement areflectance override when ASC 100 observes measured solar radiationequal to or in excess of a particular threshold, for example 75 percentof ASHRAE calculated clear sky solar radiation. Further, the thresholdutilized for implementing a reflectance override may be related to thethreshold utilized for determining a sky condition (clear, cloudy,bright overcast, partly sunny, and the like). For example, in anembodiment, the threshold utilized for implementing a reflectanceoverride may be 5% greater than the threshold for determining a clearsky condition. Additionally, when radiometers and photometers areemployed, CCS 110 may be configured to implement a reflectance overrideonly when ASC 100 is operating under a particular mode or modes (clearsky, partly clear sky, and so forth). CCS 110 may thus assess datareceived from one or more photometers in order to see if the ambientlighting level is above a particular threshold. Moreover, in certainvarious embodiments, CCS 110 may be overridden by a bright overcast skymode calculation (i) one or more window coverings are moved to apredetermined position, for example 50% of fully open, and/or (ii) oneor more variable characteristics of a glass may be set to apredetermined value (for example, visible light transmission of fromabout 0.3 to about 0.9, a shading coefficient of from about 0.3 to about0.9, and/or the like).

With reference now to FIGS. 10A to 10D, in various embodiments, areflectance program is configured to determine if reflected light fallson a particular location on a building. A three-dimensional computermodel of the building is constructed. As depicted in FIG. 10A, a virtualcamera is placed at the location on the building model where reflectanceis to be assessed. A three-dimensional computer model of surroundingobjects (other buildings, bodies of water, and the like) is constructed.With this information, the virtual camera constructs a 180 degreehemispherical projection of all objects visible in the direction thecamera is facing, as depicted in FIG. 10B. The position of the sun isplotted in the hemispherical projection. Depending on the position ofthe sun and the properties of the objects visible to the camera (e.g.,reflective, non-reflective, and the like), the virtual camera locationmay be in a direct sunlight condition, shaded condition, a reflectancecondition, and the like. For example, if the position of the sun iswithin the boundary of another building, and the building is notreflective, the building will cast a shadow onto the virtual cameralocation, resulting in a shaded condition.

With reference now to FIG. 10C, in accordance with various embodiments,one or more reflecting surfaces are plotted in the hemisphericalprojection. Information about reflecting surfaces may be stored in areflector table. For example, a reflector table may contain informationcharacterizing the dimensions of the reflecting surface, the location ofa reflecting surface, the azimuth of a reflecting surface, the altitudeof a reflecting surface, and/or the like. Information from the reflectortable may be utilized to plot one or more reflecting surfaces in thehemispherical projection. Moreover, for a defined sun position in thesky (azimuth and altitude), the sun may be reflected onto the virtualcamera location by one or more of the reflecting surfaces. The reflectedsun (and associated sunlight) has a position (azimuth and altitude)different from the actual sun location in the sky. The reflected sun isplotted on the hemispherical projection.

At this point, the reflected sun ma fall within the bounds of at leastone reflecting surface, if this occurs, the reflected sunlight will fallon the virtual camera, as illustrated in FIG. 10C. Alternately, thereflected sun may fall outside the bounds of any reflecting surface. Inthis event, no reflected sunlight falls on the virtual camera, asillustrated in FIG. 10D.

Moreover, as illustrated by FIG. 10E, a reflecting surface may itself beshaded. A reflectance program may test the location of the reflected sunto determine if the reflected sun is in the shaded or sunlit portion ofa reflecting surface. If the reflected sun is on the sunlit part of thereflecting surface, the reflected sunlight will fall on the virtualcamera. If the reflected sun is on the shaded part of the reflectingsurface, no reflected sunlight will fall on the virtual camera.Moreover, a reflectance program may be configured to account for andproperly model “self-shading”, wherein a portion of a building casts ashadow onto another portion of the building, and “self-reflectance”,wherein a portion of a building reflects light onto another portion ofthe building. In this manner, a reflectance algorithm may model, plot,determine, and/or otherwise calculate the presence and/or absence ofspecular reflections and/or diffuse reflections at any desired location.Moreover, reflectance information for complex building shapes (e.g.,cruciform buildings, pinwheel-shaped buildings, irregular buildings,and/or the like) may thus be modeled, and (i) one or more windowcoverings 255 may be moved accordingly, and/or (ii) one or more variablecharacteristics of a glass may be modified accordingly.

Turning now to FIGS. 11A and 11B, in various embodiments, ASC 100, CCS110, and/or glass controller 140 may be configured to adjust one or morevariable characteristics of a glass at a window-wide level. Statedanother way, glass controller 140 may be configured to adjust one ormore variable characteristics of a glass, wherein the characteristic isadjusted at a generally equal level across an entire window 210. Forexample, on a bright overcast day, glass controller 140 may adjust thevisible light transmission of a glass such that a window 210 isconfigured with an approximately uniform visible light transmission(e.g., about 70%) at most or all locations on window 210.

With reference now to FIG. 11C, in various embodiments, ASC 100, CCS110, and/or glass control 140 are configured to adjust one or morevariable characteristics of a glass in a “banded”, “ombre”, or otherwisevariable and/or staggered manner. For example, a window 210 may beconfigured with a plurality of bands (e.g., horizontal bands B1 throughB4 extending from top to bottom of window 210), wherein one or morevariable characteristics of a glass may be adjusted in each bandindependently from the other bands. In various embodiments, a window 210may be configured with horizontal, vertical, diagonal, curved, irregularand/or other geometric shaped bands. The bands may be similar in sizeand/or the bands may vary in size from one another. For example, bandscloser to a floor may be larger than bands higher up on window 210.

With respect to any particular variable characteristic of a glasscomprising window 210, the bands in window 210 may be configured in avariety of patterns (e.g., ascending, descending, striped, etc). Aparticular pattern may be selected based on one or more appropriatefactors, for example solar orientation, window pitch, slope, or tilt,ambient brightness, modeled shadow, modeled reflectance, position of anassociated window covering, brightness factor of a fabric comprising anassociated window covering, and/or the like.

One or more variable characteristics of a glass may be adjusted via oneor more glass controllers 140 in order to configure window 210 in adesired manner. Thus, for example, via a glass controller 140, a window210 may be configured with a visible light transmission of about 20% inband B1, a visible light transmission of about 30% in band B2, a visiblelight transmission of about 40% in band B3, and a visible lighttransmission of about 70% in band B4. In this manner, window 210 may beconfigured to achieve a desired overall lighting schema in an associatedroom, for example by limiting solar penetration, while still allowing adesired level of light into a room.

In various embodiments, one or more variable characteristics of a glassfor multiple windows 210 may be adjusted via a single glass controller140. Multiple glass controllers 140 may also be associated with a singlewindow 210 (for example, one glass controller 140 per band).

In various embodiments, ASC 100 or components thereof may utilizeadjustment of one or more variable characteristics of a glass inconnection with artificial lighting control, thermal management, and/orthe like. For example. ASC 100 or components thereof may be configuredto model and/or anticipate solar load on a window 210 as discussedherein. Because there is often a significant time delay between theinitiation of an adjustment to a variable characteristic of a glass andthe completion of the adjustment to a variable characteristic of a glass(for example, the process of reducing the visible light transmission ofelectrochromic glass by changing an applied voltage can take manyminutes), ASC 100 or components thereof may initiate an adjustment to avariable characteristic of a glass in advance of such adjustment beingdesirable due to a change in the environment of a window 210. In thismanner, ASC 100 or components thereof can avoid or minimize undesirablesituations, for example wherein a building occupant experiencesexcessive brightness or veiling glare, due to the often extended periodof time associated with an adjustment of a variable characteristic of aglass. Because ASC 100 or components thereof may be configured toproactively model and/or anticipate desirability of a change to avariable characteristic of a glass, ASC 100 may achieve improvedoccupant comfort, thermal regulation, brightness regulation, reducedcooling expenses, and the like.

It will be appreciated that one or more variable characteristics of aglass may be adjusted and/or controlled based on one or more of ameasured or calculated BTU load on the glass, inside temperature,outside temperature, calendar scheduling, sky conditions, user overridehistory, control of one or more associated window coverings 255, and/orthe like,

In various embodiments, CCS 110 may occasionally calculate (i)conflicting movement information for a motor zone, and/or (ii)conflicting variable glass characteristics for a motor zone (forexample, via use one or more of algorithm 600, algorithm 700, algorithm800, algorithm 900, and/or the like). For example, a first portion of amotor zone may be in a shadowed condition, resulting in CCS 110calculating a need to move at least one window covering toward a fullyopen position (and/or vary one or more variable characteristics of aglass, for example in order to increase the visible light transmission)in accordance with algorithm 800. At the same time, a second portion ofa motor zone may be in a reflectance condition, resulting in CCS 110calculating a need to move at least one window covering toward a fullyclosed position (and/or vary one or more variable characteristics of aglass, for example in order to decrease the visible light transmission)in accordance with algorithm 900. In order to maintain brightnesscomfort, CCS 110 may be configured to allow the results of algorithm 900to take priority over the results of algorithm 800. Stated another way,CCS 110 may be configured to give reflectance priority over shadow.Moreover, CCS 110 and/or ASC 100 may be configured to allow the resultsof any particular algorithm to take priority over the results of anyother algorithm, as desired.

CCS 110 may be configured to execute one or more algorithms, includingbut not limited to algorithms 600, 700, 800, and/or 900, on a continuousand/or real-time basis, on a scheduled basis (every ten seconds, everyminute, every ten minutes, every hour, and the like), on an interruptbasis (responsive to information received from one or more sensors,responsive to input received from a user, responsive to a remotecommand, and the like), and/or any combination of the above. Moreover,CCS 110 may be configured to execute an algorithm, such as algorithm600, independently. CCS 110 may also be configured to execute analgorithm, such as algorithm 600, simultaneously with one or moreadditional algorithms, such as algorithm 700, algorithm 800, algorithm900, and the like. Further, CCS 110 may be configured to turn off and/orotherwise disable use of one or more algorithms, such as algorithm 800,as desired, for example when conditions are overcast, cloudy, and thelike. Moreover, CCS 110 may be configured to implement and/or executeany suitable number of algorithms at any suitable times in order toachieve a desired effect on an enclosed space.

As mentioned herein, ASC 100 may be configured to communicate with aBuilding Management System (BMS), a lighting system and/or a HVAC systemto facilitate optimum interior lighting and climate control. Moreover,ASC 100 may communicate with a BMS for any suitable reason, for example,responsive to overheating of a zone, responsive to safetyconsiderations, responsive to instructions from a system operator,and/or the like. For example, ASC 100 may be used to determine the solarload on a structure and communicate this information to the BMS. TheBMS, in turn, may use this information to proactively and/or reactivelyset the interior temperatures and/or light levels throughout thestructure to avoid having to expend excessive energy required tomitigate already uncomfortable levels, and to avoid a lag time inresponse to temperature changes on a building. For example, in typicalsystems, a BMS responds to the heat load on a building once that heatload has been registered. Because changing the interior environment of abuilding takes significant energy, time and resources, there is asubstantial lag in response time by a BMS to that heat load gain. Incontrast, the proactive and reactive algorithms and systems of ASC 100may be configured to actively communicate to BMS regarding changes inbrightness, solar angle, heat, and the like, such that BMS canproactively adjust the interior environment before any uncomfortableheat load and/or other condition on and/or in a building is actuallyregistered.

Furthermore, ASC 100 may be given priority to optimize window coveringsettings and/or variable characteristics of a glass based on energymanagement and personal comfort criteria, after which the lightingsystem and HVAC system may be used to supplement the existing conditionwhere the available natural daylight condition may be inadequate to meetthe comfort requirements. Communication with a lighting system may beuseful to help minimize the required photo sensor resources wherepossible and to help minimize situations where closed loop sensors forboth shading and lighting control algorithms may be affected by eachother. For example, based on information from one or more brightnesssensors, ASC 100 may (i) move at least one window covering into a firstposition, and/or (ii) vary one or more variable characteristics of aglass. After ASC 100 has moved a window covering and/or varied one ormore variable characteristics of a glass, a lighting system may then beactivated and select appropriate dimming for the room. However,oftentimes the lighting system may overcompensate an existing brightwindow wall where the lighting system may lower the dimming setting toofar and thus create a “cave effect” whereby the illuminance ratio fromthe window wall to the surrounding wall and task surfaces may be toogreat for comfort. Proper photo sensor instrumentation for illuminanceratio control may be configured to help establish the correct settingfor the shades, the variable characteristics of a glass, and/or lightseven though it may cost more energy to accomplish this comfort setting.In addition, the lighting sensor may also provide the shading systemwith occupancy information which may be utilized in multi-use spaces tohelp accommodate different modes of operation and functionality. Forinstance, an unoccupied conference room may go into an energyconservation mode with the window coverings being deployed all the wayup or down (and/or the variable characteristics of a glass set asdesired, for example visible light transmission set to a minimum value,a maximum value, and/or an intermediate value) in conjunction with thelights and HVAC to minimize solar heat gain or maximize heat retention.Furthermore, the window coverings (and/or the variable characteristicsof a glass) may otherwise enter into a comfort control mode when thespace is occupied unless overridden for presentation purposes.

ASC 100 may also be configured to be customizable and/or fine-tuned tomeet the needs of a structure and/or its inhabitants. For example, thedifferent operating zones may be defined by the size, geometry and solarorientation of the window openings. ASC 100 control may be configured tobe responsive to specific window types by zone and/or to individualoccupants. ASC 100 may also be configured to give a structure asubstantially uniform interior and/or exterior appearance, instead of a“snaggletooth” look that is associated with irregular positioning ofwindow attachments, and/or instead of a “checkerboard” look that may beassociated with irregular settings of one or more variablecharacteristics of a glass (for example, greatly differing values ofvisible light transmission among the glass of nearby windows in astructure).

ASC 100 may also be configured to receive and/or report any fine-tuningrequest and/or change. Thus, a remote controller and/or local controllermay better assist and/or fine-tune any feature of ASC 100, ASC 100 mayalso be configured with one or more global parameters for optimizingcontrol and use of the system. Such global parameters may include, forexample, the structure location, latitude, longitude, local median,window dimensions, window angles, date, sunrise and sunset schedules,one or more communication ports, clear sky factors, clear sky errorrates, overcast sky error rates, solar heat gain limits for one or morewindow covering positions, solar heat gain limits for one or morevariable characteristics of a glass, positioning timers, the local time,the time that a control system will wait before adjusting the shadesfrom cloudy to clear sky conditions for vice versa), the time that acontrol system will wait before adjusting the a variable characteristicof a glass from cloudy to clear sky conditions (or vice versa), and/orany other user-defined global parameter or parameters.

ASC 100 may also be configured to operate, for example, in a specificmode for sunrise and/or sunset because of the low heat levels, but highsun spot, brightness, reflectance and veiling glare associated withthese sun times. For example, in one embodiment, ASC 100 may beconfigured with a solar override during the sunrise that (i) bringswindow coverings 255 down in the east side of the structure and movesthem up as the sun moves to the zenith, and/or (ii) sets one or morevariable characteristics of a glass to a certain value (for example,setting visible light transmission to a value below 0.2) on the eastside of the structure, and then varying one or more variablecharacteristics of a glass as the sun moves to the zenith (for example,increasing visible light transmission to a value at or exceeding 0.5).Conversely, during sunset, ASC 100 may be configured to move windowcoverings 255 down on the west side of the structure (and/or decreasethe visible light transmission of a glass) to correspond to the changingsolar angle during this time period. In another embodiment, ASC 100 maybe configured with a reflectance override during the sunrise that bringswindow coverings 255 down (and/or decreases the visible lighttransmission of a glass) in the west side of the structure due at leastin part to light reflected onto the west side of the structure, forexample light reflected off an adjacent building with a reflectiveexterior. Moreover, when trying to preserve a view under unobtrusivelighting conditions, a Sunrise Offset Override or a Sunset OffsetOverride may lock in a shade position (and/or a value for one or morevariable characteristics of a glass) and prevent ASC 100 from reactingto solar conditions for a preset length of time after sunrise or apreset length of time before sunset.

Moreover, ASC 100 may be configured with a particular subset ofcomponents, functionality and/or features, for example to obtain adesired price point for a particular version of ASC 100. For example,due to memory constraints or other limitations, ASC 100 may beconfigured to utilize the average solar position of each week of a solaryear, rather than the average solar position of each day of a solaryear. Stated another way. ASC 100 may be configured to determine changesto the solar curve on a weekly basis, rather than on a daily basis.Moreover, ASC 100 may be configured to support a limited number of motorzones, radiometers and/or photometers, proactive and/or reactivealgorithms, data logging, and/or the like, as appropriate, in order toobtain a particular system complexity level, price point, or otherdesired configuration and/or attribute. Further, ASC 100 may beconfigured to support an increased number of a particular feature (forexample, motor zones), in exchange for support of a correspondingdecreased number of another feature (for example, solar days per year).In particular, an ASC 100 having a limited feature set may be desirablefor use in small-scale deployments, retrofits, and/or the like.Additionally, an ASC 100 having a limited feature set is desirable toachieve improved energy conservation, daylighting, brightness control,and/or the like, for a particular building. Moreover, ASC 100 may beconfigured as a stand-alone unit having internal processingfunctionality, such that ASC 100 may operate without requiringcomputational resources of a PC or other general purpose computer andassociated software.

For example, in various embodiments, ASC 100 comprises a programmablemicrocontroller configured to support 12 motor zones. The programmablemicrocontroller is further configured to receive input from 2 solarradiometers. Moreover, in order to provide scalability, multipleinstances of an ASC 100 may be operatively linked (i.e. “ganged”)together to support additional zones. For example, four ASCs 100 may beganged together to support 48 zones. Additionally, ASC 100 may beconfigured with an IP interface in order to provide networking andcommunications functionality. Moreover, ASC 100 may be configured with alocal communication interface, for example an RS232 interface, tofacilitate interoperation with and/or control of or by third-partysystems. ASC 100 may also be configured with one or more of a graphicaluser interface, buttons, switches, indicators, lights, and the like, inorder to facilitate interaction with and/or control by a system user.

Further, in this exemplary embodiment, ASC 100 may be configured with abasic event scheduler, for example a scheduler capable of supportingweekly, bi-weekly, monthly, and/or bi-monthly events. ASC 100 may alsobe configured with a time-limited data log, for example a log containinginformation regarding manual and/or automatic shade moves, the solarcondition for one or more days, system troubleshooting information,and/or the like, for a limited period of time (e.g., 30 days, or otherlimited period selected based on cost considerations, informationstorage space considerations, processing power considerations, and/orthe like).

Moreover, in this exemplary embodiment, the programmable microcontrollerof ASC 100 may be configured to utilize a limited data set in order tocalculate one or more movements for a window shade. For example, ASC 100may be configured to utilize one or more of ASHRAE algorithms, windowgeometry, window size, window tilt angle, height of the window head andsill off the floor, motor zone information, solar orientation, overhanginformation, and/or window glazing specifications (i.e., shadingcoefficient, visible light transmission, and the like). ASC 100 may thencalculate solar angles and/or solar intensity (i.e., in BTUs or wattsper square meter) for each motor zone and/or solar penetration for eachmotor zone. Based on a measured and/or calculated sky condition, (i) oneor more window shades may then be moved to an appropriate position,and/or (ii) one or more variable characteristics of a glass may be setto an appropriate value. ASC 100 may further utilize both (i) shademovements and/or glass characteristic changes resulting from real-timecalculations (for example, calculations based on sensor readings) aswell as (ii) scheduled shade movements and/or glass characteristicchanges.

As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, variousembodiments may be embodied as a customization of an existing system, anadd-on product, upgraded software, a stand-alone system, a distributedsystem, a method, a data processing system, a device for dataprocessing, and/or a computer program product. Accordingly, variousembodiments may take the form of an entirely software embodiment, anentirely hardware embodiment, or an embodiment combining aspects of bothsoftware and hardware. Furthermore, various embodiments may take theform of a computer program product on a computer-readable storage mediumhaving computer-readable program code means embodied in the storagemedium. Any suitable computer-readable storage medium may be utilized,including hard disks, CD-ROM, optical storage devices, magnetic storagedevices, and/or the like.

These computer program instructions may be loaded onto a general purposecomputer, special purpose computer, or other programmable dataprocessing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructionsthat execute on the computer or other programmable data processingapparatus create means for implementing the functions specified in theflowchart block or blocks. These computer program instructions may alsobe stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer orother programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readablememory produce an article of manufacture including instruction meanswhich implement the function specified in the flowchart block or blocks.The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer orother programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series ofoperational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmableapparatus to produce a computer-implemented process such that theinstructions which execute on the computer or other programmableapparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in theflowchart block or blocks.

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have beendescribed herein with regard to specific embodiments. However, thebenefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that maycause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become morepronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essentialfeatures or elements of any or all the claims. As used herein, the terms“comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intendedto cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that to process, method,article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not includeonly those elements but may include other elements not expressly listedor inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Further, noelement described herein is required unless expressly described as“essential” or “critical.” When “at least one of A, B, or C” is used inthe claims, the phrase is intended to mean any of the following: (1) atleast one of A; (2) at least one of B; (3) at least one of C; (4) atleast one of A and at least one of B; (5) at least one of B and at leastone of C; (6) at least one of A and at least one of C; or (7) at leastone of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C.

In various embodiments, a method comprises modeling at least a portionof a reflective surface to create a reflectance model, querying thereflectance model a first time to calculate the presence of calculatedreflected light at a location of interest, and adjusting a variablecharacteristic of a glass responsive to the calculated reflected lightat the location of interest. The method may further comprise queryingthe reflectance model a second time to determine a duration of thecalculated reflected light at the location of interest. Adjusting avariable characteristic of the glass may be in response to the durationexceeding a default reflectance duration. Adjusting a variablecharacteristic of the glass may be in response to the duration exceedinga user-input duration. The method may further comprise receivinginformation from a photometer indicating a presence of measuredreflected light at the location of interest.

Adjusting a variable characteristic of the glass may be in response tothe measured reflected light. A plurality of reflective surfaces may bemodeled to create the reflectance model. Querying the reflectance modela first time may comprise calculating reflection information for each ofthe plurality of reflective surfaces. Calculating reflection informationmay comprise calculating dispersion reflection information. Querying thereflectance model a first time may comprise calculating reflectioninformation for at least one of the plurality of reflective surfaces,and calculating no reflection information for at least one of theplurality of reflective surfaces.

The method may further comprise querying the reflectance model tocalculate an apparent altitude of the calculated reflected light at thelocation of interest. The method may further comprise adjusting thevisible light transmission of the glass to a minimum value responsive tothe apparent altitude having a negative value. The method may furthercomprise querying the reflectance model to determine a calculatedintensity of the calculated reflected light at the location of interest.The adjusting a variable characteristic of the glass may be in responseto the calculated intensity exceeding a default intensity.

In another exemplary embodiment, a System comprises a motor configuredto actuate a window covering, a central controller configured to controlthe motor using reflectance information, and a glass controllerconfigured to adjust a variable characteristic of a glass usingreflectance information. The reflectance information may be obtained byquerying a reflectance model to calculate the presence of calculatedreflected light on the window. The system may further comprise aphotometer associated with the window. The reflectance information maybe obtained from the photometer.

In another exemplary embodiment, a system comprises a motor configuredto actuate a window covering, and a central controller configured tocontrol the motor in connection with a proactive algorithm. Theproactive algorithm incorporates at least one of shadow information orreflectance information, and the proactive algorithm incorporatesinformation regarding a variable characteristic of glass associated withthe window covering. The reflectance information may be based on atleast one of cityscape conditions or topographical conditions. Theshadow information may be based on at least one of cityscape conditionsor topographical conditions.

The reflectance information may be calculated based on at least one of abody of water, an expanse of snow, an expanse of sand, a glass surface,or a metal surface. The reflectance information may comprise areflective surface table. The system may further comprise at least oneof a radiometer or a photometer to detect at least one of lightinginformation or radiation information. The proactive algorithm may beconfigured to utilize at least one of the lighting information, theradiation information, the reflectance information, the shadowinformation, brightness information, information regarding one or morevariable characteristics of a glass, or solar heat gain information tocalculate a total foot-candle load on a structure. The centralcontroller may use the proactive algorithm. The central controller mayincorporate the proactive algorithm. The central controller may be acentralized control system (CCS). The central controller may control themotor via a motor controller. The central controller may control theglass via a glass controller.

In another exemplary embodiment, a method comprises providing a systemconfigured to facilitate control of daylighting of an interior space.The system is configured with at least one of a shadow program or areflectance program. The method further comprises coupling the system toa remote communication link, and communicating a first instructionconfigured to adjust a variable characteristic of a first glass to afirst glass controller via the remote communication link. The firstinstruction is generated responsive to at least one of shadowinformation or reflectance information.

The first instruction may be generated responsive to the systemdetermining the existence of a clear sky condition. The method mayfurther comprise communicating a second instruction configured to adjusta variable characteristic of a second glass to a second glass controllervia the remote communication link, and the second instruction may begenerated responsive to at least one of shadow information orreflectance information. The first glass may be part of a first zone,and the second glass may be part of a second motor zone. The first zonemay be associated with a first tenant, and the second zone may beassociated with a second tenant. The first tenant may be associated witha first part of a building, and the second tenant may be associated witha second part of said building.

In another exemplary embodiment, a method comprises generating, at acentralized control system configured with a shadow program, andresponsive to shadow information, a first instruction configured toadjust a variable characteristic of a first glass to a first value. Themethod further comprises generating, at the centralized control system,and responsive to shadow information, a second instruction configured toadjust the variable characteristic of a second glass to a second value.The first value and the second value are different.

The method may further comprise generating, at the centralized controlsystem, and responsive to shadow information, a third instructionconfigured to adjust the variable characteristic of a third glass to athird value. The first value, the second value, and the third value maybe different. The method may further comprise storing informationrelated to at least one of variable characteristic information for thefirst glass and the second glass, or variable characteristic historyinformation for the first glass and the second glass. The firstinstruction may be generated responsive to a measured solar radiationvalue exceeding 60% of an ASHRAE theoretical clear sky solar radiationvalue. The first instruction and the second instruction may be generatedresponsive to brightness information acquired by at least one of aphotometer or a radiometer exceeding a predetermined value. The at leastone of a photometer or a radiometer may be located on the externalportion of a building.

In another exemplary embodiment, a system comprise a glass having one ormore variable characteristics, and a central controller configured tocontrol the one or more variable characteristics of the glass inconnection with a proactive algorithm. The proactive algorithmincorporates at least one of lighting information or radiationinformation. The central controller is configured to control the glassusing shadow information based on at least one of cityscape conditionsor topographical conditions.

The system may further comprise at least one of a radiometer or aphotometer to detect at least one of the lighting information or theradiation information. The proactive algorithm may acquire at least aportion of the lighting information or the radiation information from adatabase. The central controller may be configured with a reactivealgorithm incorporating at least one of the lighting information or theradiation information. The reactive algorithm may be configured tofacilitate control of the glass under conditions not modeled by theproactive algorithm.

In another exemplary embodiment, a system comprise a glass having one ormore variable characteristics, and a central controller configured tocontrol the one or more variable characteristics of the glass inconnection with a proactive algorithm. The proactive algorithmincorporates at least one of lighting information or radiationinformation. The central controller is configured to incorporate a clearsky algorithm.

The clear sky algorithm may be an ASHRAE clear sky algorithm. Theproactive algorithm may be configured to implement a brightnessoverride. The brightness override may be triggered responsive to ameasured brightness exceeding a user defined ratio between the measuredbrightness and ambient illumination.

In another exemplary embodiment, a system comprise a glass having one ormore variable characteristics, and a central controller configured tocontrol the one or more variable characteristics of the glass inconnection with a proactive algorithm. The proactive algorithmincorporates at least one of lighting information or radiationinformation. The system further comprises a motion sensor to detectmotion information. The motion information is used to modify theproactive algorithm.

The proactive algorithm may acquire at least a portion of the lightinginformation or the radiation information from a database.

In another exemplary embodiment, a system comprise a glass having one ormore variable characteristics, and a central controller configured tocontrol the one or more variable characteristics of the glass inconnection with a proactive algorithm. The proactive algorithmincorporates at least one of lighting information or radiationinformation. The proactive algorithm is configured to utilize at leastone of the lighting information, the radiation information, brightnessinformation, or solar heat gain to calculate a total foot-candle load ona structure.

The system may further comprise at least one of a radiometer or aphotometer to detect at least one of the lighting information or theradiation information.

In another exemplary embodiment, a system comprise a glass having one ormore variable characteristics, and a central controller configured tocontrol the one or more variable characteristics of the glass inconnection with a proactive algorithm. The proactive algorithmincorporates at least one of lighting information or radiationinformation. The proactive algorithm is configured to utilize at leastone of an actual British thermal unit (BTU) load or a calculated BTUload to control the one or more variable characteristics of the glass.

In another exemplary embodiment, a method comprises receiving, at acentral controller, an input comprising at least one of lightinginformation, radiation information, temperature information, or motioninformation. The method further comprises analyzing the input using areactive algorithm to form an instruction configured to adjust avariable characteristic of a glass, communicating the instruction to aglass controller, and inputting occupant tracking information into thereactive algorithm to adjust for manual overrides.

At least one of the lighting information, radiation information,temperature information, or motion information may be detected by asensor in communication with the central controller. At least one of thelighting information, radiation information, temperature information, ormotion information may be provided to the central controller from adatabase.

In another exemplary embodiment, a system for facilitating control ofdaylighting of an interior space comprises a motor configured to actuatea window covering, at least one of a radiometer or a photometer todetect lighting information, and a central controller configured tocontrol the motor in connection with a proactive algorithm incorporatingthe lighting information. The proactive algorithm incorporatesinformation regarding at least one variable characteristic of a glassassociated with the window covering.

The central controller may use the proactive algorithm. The centralcontroller may incorporate the proactive algorithm. The centralcontroller may be a centralized control system (CCS). The centralcontroller may control the motor via a motor controller. The centralcontroller may control at least one variable characteristic of the glassvia a glass controller.

1. A system, comprising: a glass controller configured to adjust avariable characteristic of a glass; and a central controller configuredto control the glass controller and a motor associated with a windowcovering.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the central controllerutilizes a proactive algorithm.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein theproactive algorithm incorporates at least one of shadow information orreflectance information.
 4. The system of claim 2, wherein the proactivealgorithm incorporates a clear sky algorithm.
 5. The system of claim 4,wherein the clear sky algorithm is an ASHRAE clear sky algorithm.
 6. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the glass is divided into a plurality ofbands, and wherein the variable characteristic of the glass may beadjusted independently in each band.
 7. The system of claim 6, whereinthe bands are horizontal.
 8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:the motor associated with the window covering; and at least one of aradiometer or a photometer to detect at least one of lightinginformation or radiation information.
 9. A method, comprising: modeling,by an automated shade control system, at least a portion of a buildingand at least a portion of the surroundings of a building to create ashadow model; using, by the automated shade control system, the shadowmodel a first time to calculate the presence of calculated shadow at afirst location of interest; and communicating, to a first glasscontroller, an instruction configured to adjust a variablecharacteristic of a first glass responsive to the calculated shadow atthe first location of interest.
 10. A method, comprising: receiving, atan automated shade control system, an input from at least one of aphotosensor or a radiometer; generating, responsive to the input, afirst instruction to a glass controller, the first instructionconfigured to cause the glass controller to adjust a variablecharacteristic of a first glass; and generating, responsive to theinput, a second instruction to a motor controller, the secondinstruction configured to cause the motor controller to adjust theposition of a window covering associated with the glass.
 11. The methodof claim 10, wherein the first instruction and the second instructionare generated by the automated shade control system via use of aproactive algorithm incorporating a clear sky model.
 12. The method ofclaim 10, wherein the first instruction and the second instruction aregenerated responsive to the automated shade control system determiningthat at least one of an actual British thermal unit (BTU) load on theglass or a calculated BTU load on the glass exceeds a predeterminedvalue.
 13. A method, comprising: modeling, by an automated shade controlsystem, at least a portion of a building and at least a portion of thesurroundings of a building to create a reflectance model; using, by theautomated shade control system, the reflectance model a first time tocalculate the presence of calculated reflected light at the firstlocation of interest; and communicating, to a first glass controller, afirst instruction configured to adjust a variable characteristic of afirst glass responsive to the calculated reflected light at the firstlocation of interest.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein, responsive tothe automated shade control system determining the existence of a cloudysky condition, the first instruction is not communicated to the firstglass controller.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the firstinstruction is communicated responsive to a measured solar radiationvalue exceeding 60% of a theoretical clear sky solar radiation value.16. The method of claim 13, further comprising communicating, to thefirst glass controller, a second instruction configured to adjust thevariable characteristic of the first glass responsive to the reflectancemodel indicating the presence of calculated reflected light at the firstlocation of interest at the same time that a shadow model indicates thepresence of calculated shadow at the first location of interest.
 17. Themethod of claim 16, wherein the variable characteristic of the firstglass is adjusted to reduce the visible light transmission of the glass.18. A method for controlling a glass having a variable characteristic,the method comprising: using, by an automated shade control system,information related to at least one of solar penetration through awindow or solar load on the window to establish a standard managementroutine for a glass having a variable characteristic; receiving, at theautomated shade control system, reflectance information indicating thepresence of calculated reflected light on the glass; and overriding, bythe automated shade control system, the standard management routineresponsive to the presence of calculated reflected light on the glass.19. A method, comprising: communicating, to a first glass controller, afirst instruction configured to adjust a variable characteristic of afirst glass in a first band; and communicating, to the first glasscontroller, a second instruction configured to adjust the variablecharacteristic of the first glass in a second band.
 20. The method ofclaim 19, wherein the first instruction and the second instruction aregenerated responsive to at least one of shadow information orreflectance information.
 21. The method of claim 19, wherein the firstglass comprises a window, wherein the first band comprises an upperportion of the window, and wherein the second band comprises a lowerportion of the window.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the variablecharacteristic is visible light transmission, and wherein the variablelight transmission of the second hand is higher than the variable lighttransmission of the first band.
 23. The method of claim 19, furthercomprising communicating, to a first motor controller, a first movementrequest configured to adjust a first window covering associated with theglass.
 24. The method of claim 19, wherein the first instruction and thesecond instruction are communicated to the first glass controllerresponsive to an automated shade control system determining theexistence of a clear sky condition.